Rahul Gandhi Slams PM Modi Over Lathi Charge On Students Demanding Answers

The political atmosphere in the national capital intensified as opposition parties launched a scathing attack on the central government following a lathi charge on supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during their Sansad Chalo campaign. The protest, which was aimed at highlighting issues such as the NEET examination irregularities, frequent paper leaks, and the alleged harassment of the youth, met with a forceful response from the authorities, while prominent leaders from the opposition, including Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Shashi Tharoor, have come forward to condemn the police action and question the government's stance on student welfare and democratic protests.

Rahul Gandhi Labels PM Modi as Anti-Youth

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and a senior Congress MP, took to the social media platform X to express his outrage. He described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the most anti-youth Prime Minister in the history of India. Gandhi criticized the Prime Minister's inability to seek the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom he labeled as a failed minister, while 5 crore students across the country. Despite these staggering numbers, Gandhi noted that not a single culprit has been punished. Instead, he argued, the hardworking youth are the ones being penalized, while he stated that when these students raise legitimate questions about their education and future, they're met with lathis and detention. Gandhi further emphasized that while the criminals responsible for the leaks remain free, the students raising valid issues are being dragged and beaten, suggesting that the government isn't just failing the youth but is actively attacking them.

Akhilesh Yadav Criticizes Government Failure

Joining the criticism, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav described the incident as a massive failure of the government. He noted that a large number of youth have sustained injuries due to the lathi charge. Yadav questioned the government's capability, stating that they're unable to conduct the NEET examination properly. He further alleged that those involved in the irregularities and fraud associated with the conducted exams are linked to the BJP. Before this, Akhilesh Yadav shared a poetic critique on social media, suggesting that when despair turns into a sea of tears, a revolution is born. He warned that when someone becomes arrogant with their power, it paves the way for an uprising.

Shashi Tharoor Questions the Logic of Violence

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also expressed his deep sadness over the lathi charge, stating that he couldn't understand the spirit behind such actions. He questioned the logic of using force against a non-violent protest, asserting that a lathi charge in the absence of violence is itself an act of violence. Tharoor highlighted several issues that the opposition has been trying to raise in Parliament, including the alleged theft of donations in Ayodhya and the NEET exam controversy, while he mentioned that the Congress has been raising student-related matters for several months and their only request was for a discussion on these topics. Tharoor criticized the government's refusal to acknowledge these issues, stating that a discussion in Parliament would be beneficial for everyone. He expressed bewilderment at the government's fear of debate despite having a large majority, reiterating that the purpose of Parliament is to hear the voice of the country.