The second day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament on Tuesday was marked by intense disruptions and heated exchanges between the government and the opposition, while the primary cause of the uproar was the recent lathicharge on students protesting against paper leaks in Delhi. Opposition Members of Parliament from both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha cornered the government, demanding an immediate discussion on the paper leak issue and the subsequent police action against the students, while the situation escalated to the point where proceedings in both houses had to be adjourned until 2 PM.
Kharge Alleges Suppression of Voice
Mallikarjun Kharge, the President of the Congress party and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, leveled serious allegations against the presiding officers. He claimed that his microphone was deliberately turned off as soon as he began to speak about the plight of the students. Kharge questioned the state of democracy, asking, "Is this democracy? " He expressed deep concern over the treatment of students, questioning why they were subjected to lathicharge, physical assault, and tear gas shells. Kharge stated that thousands of students across the country are raising their voices against paper leaks, but the government responded with violence instead of dialogue.
Allegations of Anarchy and Confinement
Continuing his attack, Kharge stated that the opposition wanted a formal discussion in the house followed by a statement from the Home Minister. However, he alleged that the government effectively silenced them. He accused the government of creating anarchy and provoking people only to suppress them through force and imprisonment, while kharge also mentioned that they weren't even allowed to leave the house and were kept inside like a jail. He condemned the attitude of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that the country is moving towards a state of chaos which they're unwilling to control.
Rahul Gandhi Demands Education Minister's Resignation
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also took a firm stand on the issue. He emphasized that the future of students is at stake and questioned why the Parliament isn't discussing it. Gandhi pointed out that students were beaten for merely asking questions and protesting against a destroyed examination system. He questioned the silence of Prime Minister Modi and noted that the government has not yet apologized for the situation. Also, Gandhi alleged that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has taken control of the education system and demanded the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Voices from the Opposition: Akhilesh, Owaisi, and Priyanka Gandhi
Other prominent opposition leaders also joined the chorus of criticism. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav suggested that the BJP is unable to pressure its allies for resignations because it fears the revelation of suppressed secrets. He termed the government's behavior towards the youth as unacceptable in a democracy. AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi described the incident as a continuation of the government's consistent behavior and called the situation a complete state of mismanagement, while priyanka Gandhi Vadra highlighted that the Congress has been raising the paper leak issue for a long time without any action being taken. She spoke about the struggles of parents who take loans for their children's education and the plight of 26 and 27 year old youths in Uttar Pradesh who are unable to get married because they're still waiting for appointment letters that never arrive due to paper leaks. She demanded that the Education Minister resign and that the voices of the youth be heard in the Parliament.