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New Delhi, July 21
What began as a peaceful march demanding justice for protesting students ended in dramatic scenes on the streets of the capital, with senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being detained by Delhi Police near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday.
The protest, which started with a sit-in at around 3:30pm, was organised to condemn police action against students during demonstrations a day earlier. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge joined the march, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also expressed support as opposition parties sought to increase pressure on the government.
Rahul Gandhi was joined by several senior Congress leaders, including the chief ministers of Karnataka and Kerala, as they sat on the road before police moved in to disperse the gathering.
Television footage showed security personnel lifting the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha from the ground after he resisted being removed. An aide said he suffered a minor injury below one eye during the scuffle.
There were also tense moments involving Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was seen holding onto the door of a police bus as it began moving after detentions.
Delhi Police detained several Congress leaders before clearing the protest site.The demonstration came a day after the opposition stepped up its campaign over the alleged police crackdown on students, an issue that has become a fresh flashpoint between the government and the opposition.
The Congress has demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a parliamentary discussion on the NEET issue and what it describes as justice for the students who took part in the protests.The government has not immediately responded to the opposition’s latest protest.
The North News
