In a major political escalation in Jaipur, Rajasthan, the Congress party took to the streets for the second consecutive day to protest against the central government. The demonstration, which aimed to gherao the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office, witnessed high drama as police personnel engaged in a physical scuffle with Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Govind Singh Dotasra. To disperse the surging crowd of protesters, the police deployed water cannons, leading to chaotic scenes near the Jaipur Police Commissionerate. During the intense confrontation, a female Congress worker reportedly lost consciousness and fainted on the spot.
The March and Leadership Presence
The protest march commenced from the Congress headquarters, with a large number of party workers and senior leaders participating. Prominent figures leading the charge included former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, PCC Chief Govind Singh Dotasra, and the Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully. Other senior leaders like former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas were also seen walking alongside the workers. The rally moved through Sansar Chandra Road, where the administration had to halt traffic to manage the massive gathering. As the procession reached the Government Hostel Circle, the atmosphere became increasingly charged with slogans against the ruling government.
Confrontation at the Commissionerate
The situation turned volatile when the rally reached the Jaipur Police Commissionerate, while the police had already installed heavy barricading to prevent the protesters from reaching the BJP office. A heavy police force was deployed at the site to maintain law and order. As the Congress workers attempted to push past the barriers, a scuffle broke out between the police and the protesters, while during this melee, Govind Singh Dotasra was seen in a direct physical confrontation with the police personnel. To bring the situation under control and disperse the crowd, the police used water cannons, spraying the protesters with high-pressure water, while it was during this commotion that a woman worker fainted and required immediate attention.
Dotasra Attacks BJP and Demands Resignation
Following the police action, Govind Singh Dotasra delivered a scathing attack on the BJP government. He stated that the members of the BJP are descendants of Nathuram Godse and only know how to use force and suppress movements. He remarked that governance and good governance are beyond their capabilities and accused them of engaging in hooliganism. Dotasra specifically highlighted the issue of paper leaks, claiming that 152 papers have been leaked and accusing the government of looting based on these incidents. He asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have no answers to these issues.
Demands for Dharmendra Pradhan
The primary demand of the protest was the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while dotasra emphasized that nothing less than Pradhan's resignation and a thorough discussion in the Lok Sabha would be acceptable to ensure justice for the youth. He declared that he and other Congress members are ready to face bullets for the cause. Plus, he dismissed the BJP's own recent protests as match-fixing, claiming that they merely had light water sprays, laughed, ate sweets, and went home, unlike the genuine struggle of the Congress party.
Impact on City Traffic
The massive demonstration had a significant impact on the city's infrastructure, while a major traffic jam was reported on MI Road due to the protest and the subsequent police action. Earlier, traffic on Sansar Chandra Road was also halted as the rally passed through. After the confrontation and the speeches by senior leaders, many Congress workers began to return, though the political tension in the city remained high.