Delhi Police on Tuesday forcibly removed and detained Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as well as SP chief Akhilesh Yadav from the protest site outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, while an increasing number of politician reacted to the dharna and detention, with both praise and criticism.
Rahul Gandhi along with other Congress leaders, including the chief ministers of Karnataka and Kerala, started a sit-in protest around 3.30 pm against the police action on protesting students the day earlier. As police swooped down on the site, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha could be seen lying on the ground and resisting as security personnel tried to pick him up. He was hurt in the process, reported PTI.
An aide said he suffered an injury below the eye.
There were dramatic scenes with Priyanka Gandhi hanging on the door of the police bus even after it started moving.
The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament. They are also asking for justice to the protesting students.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which has been openly backing the ongoing CJP protest, on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress' dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, calling it a "jugalbandi" with the BJP government, and accused Rahul Gandhi of "weakening" the agitation.
Senior AAP leader and former Delhi chief minister Atishi questioned how Rahul was "allowed" to stage a dharna outside the PM's residence, while the Modi government had refused to talk to Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters despite their month-long protest.
"This is amazing! CJP and Sonam Wangchuk: One month protest at Jantar Mantar. Modi govt refuses to talk to them," she said.
"Rahul Gandhi: Allowed to protest outside PM residence. In one hour, Modi Govt starts dialogue. Wah! Kya jugalbandi hai!," the AAP leader said on X in Hindi.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused Rahul of "undermining" the agitation.
"Apparently, to undermine CJP's protest, Modi got Rahul Gandhi to stage a protest at his own residence."
Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj also attacked the Congress, alleging that its leaders were silent on the ongoing movement, while their social media handles and influencers aligned to them have been trying to "weaken" the CJP protest.
"Congress's top leaders stay silent on GenZ movement, but their social media and influencers have been trying to weaken the Cockroach Movement from the very first day," he said in a post on X.
The Centre on Tuesday said it is ready to discuss all issues relating to the NEET exam and the movement associated with it in Parliament, after Rahul Gandhi's dharna.
In a strongly worded statement, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, who along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan met Gandhi and urged him to end his sit-in, alleged that the LoP "backtracked" from his earlier demand for a debate and said it does not befit a leader of his stature.
The minister also said that the Congress "has not given any notice to date for a formal discussion on this serious matter (NEET issue) as per rules".
"For a senior leader like Shri Rahul Gandhi and the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) to go back on his word is unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy," the minister said.
"The government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement... Shri Rahul Gandhi's behaviour does not align with the principles of democracy," Singh said.
On the other hand, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday expressed solidarity with Rahul Gandhi.
"The Hope of India, Shri @RahulGandhi, is on protest for the future of India, seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah," Reddy said in a post on X.
He said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were encouraging and extending full support to the youth who were "protesting across the country".
"We are with you, youth of India. Congress ka haath, Yuva ke saath," (The Congress hand is with the youth), Reddy said.
-The Telegraph
Rahul Gandhi along with other Congress leaders, including the chief ministers of Karnataka and Kerala, started a sit-in protest around 3.30 pm against the police action on protesting students the day earlier. As police swooped down on the site, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha could be seen lying on the ground and resisting as security personnel tried to pick him up. He was hurt in the process, reported PTI.
An aide said he suffered an injury below the eye.
There were dramatic scenes with Priyanka Gandhi hanging on the door of the police bus even after it started moving.
The Congress has been demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament. They are also asking for justice to the protesting students.
The Aam Aadmi Party, which has been openly backing the ongoing CJP protest, on Tuesday took a dig at the Congress' dharna outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, calling it a "jugalbandi" with the BJP government, and accused Rahul Gandhi of "weakening" the agitation.
Senior AAP leader and former Delhi chief minister Atishi questioned how Rahul was "allowed" to stage a dharna outside the PM's residence, while the Modi government had refused to talk to Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) supporters despite their month-long protest.
"This is amazing! CJP and Sonam Wangchuk: One month protest at Jantar Mantar. Modi govt refuses to talk to them," she said.
"Rahul Gandhi: Allowed to protest outside PM residence. In one hour, Modi Govt starts dialogue. Wah! Kya jugalbandi hai!," the AAP leader said on X in Hindi.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused Rahul of "undermining" the agitation.
"Apparently, to undermine CJP's protest, Modi got Rahul Gandhi to stage a protest at his own residence."
Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj also attacked the Congress, alleging that its leaders were silent on the ongoing movement, while their social media handles and influencers aligned to them have been trying to "weaken" the CJP protest.
"Congress's top leaders stay silent on GenZ movement, but their social media and influencers have been trying to weaken the Cockroach Movement from the very first day," he said in a post on X.
The Centre on Tuesday said it is ready to discuss all issues relating to the NEET exam and the movement associated with it in Parliament, after Rahul Gandhi's dharna.
In a strongly worded statement, Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, who along with Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan met Gandhi and urged him to end his sit-in, alleged that the LoP "backtracked" from his earlier demand for a debate and said it does not befit a leader of his stature.
The minister also said that the Congress "has not given any notice to date for a formal discussion on this serious matter (NEET issue) as per rules".
"For a senior leader like Shri Rahul Gandhi and the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) to go back on his word is unfortunate and contrary to every norm of democracy," the minister said.
"The government is ready to discuss in Parliament all issues related to NEET and the associated movement... Shri Rahul Gandhi's behaviour does not align with the principles of democracy," Singh said.
On the other hand, Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday expressed solidarity with Rahul Gandhi.
"The Hope of India, Shri @RahulGandhi, is on protest for the future of India, seeking the resignation of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah," Reddy said in a post on X.
He said AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were encouraging and extending full support to the youth who were "protesting across the country".
"We are with you, youth of India. Congress ka haath, Yuva ke saath," (The Congress hand is with the youth), Reddy said.
-The Telegraph
