Rahul, other Oppn leaders detained after protest near PM's residence

The Prime Minister told NDA MPs that strong action had been taken over Neet irregularities as protests, political confrontation and police action intensified in the national capital

A day after police baton-charged those protesting examination paper leaks in the heart of the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told a meeting of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that strong action had been taken against those involved in the “ghor paap” (grave sin) of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet) irregularities. He also urged NDA MPs to engage with people with “warmth and affection” and win the “trust of the youth”. 

 

The PM’s morning address to NDA MPs, in which he sought to soothe the anger among the youth over examination paper leaks, preceded a day of relentless developments centred on the police action during Monday’s Sansad Chalo march led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). Despite the police removing the temporary structures at the protest site at Jantar Mantar, protesters cleaned the site and continued to gather there throughout the day amid heavy police deployment. Security was also stepped up in central Delhi.

 

 

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said the outfit had called off its march to Parliament as it did not want more young people to be hurt. He apologised to supporters, especially women, who he alleged were beaten by male police personnel. Delhi Police said protesters had “displayed unruly, aggressive, and violent behaviour” and had “deliberately violated the prohibitory orders in force” despite repeated warnings on Monday. The police registered four first information reports (FIRs) to investigate incidents of arson and violence.

 

According to sources, 186 injured had been brought to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital emergency department until 8 am on Tuesday, of whom 89 were policemen. At least 60 protesters and 118 police personnel were injured, police sources said. During the day, Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda visited the hospital, as did Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. The Congress and AAP announced helplines.

 

By late afternoon, after the Gandhis visited the hospital, the Congress leadership upped the ante. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with other party leaders, including Chief Ministers D K Shivakumar and V D Satheesan, staged a dharna outside the PM’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg to protest the alleged “police brutality” against the youth.

 

The issue of the police baton charge and the use of tear gas against protesters also reverberated in Parliament. Proceedings were washed out for the second consecutive day of the monsoon session on Tuesday. Opposition members protested the police action on the CJP-led march. 

 

Addressing a press conference at Jantar Mantar, Dipke questioned the government’s intent behind initiating talks with his outfit, saying it was engaging in dialogue with the CJP while simultaneously carrying out a police crackdown on protesters. CJP leaders Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das met Nadda on Monday afternoon. Dipke alleged that Das and Ranka’s mobile phones had been taken away and that they were “in a way under house arrest at Nadda’s residence”. He alleged that the government’s plan was to scatter the leadership so that “when there is chaos, no one is there”. The government did not respond to the allegations. Government sources reiterated their commitment to holding talks with the CJP. The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered climate activist Sonam Wangchuk’s immediate transfer to Medanta in Gurugram. 

 

Minutes after the Congress leadership began its dharna outside the PM’s residence, Minister of State in the PM’s Office Jitendra Singh, along with Home Secretary Govind Mohan, met Rahul Gandhi and urged him to end the protest. Singh alleged Gandhi had “backtracked” from his demand for a debate on the issue in Parliament and said it did not befit a leader of his stature. Singh said Gandhi refused his request and instead demanded that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan  also resign. “The government is ready to discuss all issues related to Neet and the associated movement,” Singh said. 

 

Soon after Singh’s statement, police forcibly removed and detained Gandhi, other Congress leaders, and Samajwadi Party’s  Akhilesh Yadav. Gandhi lay on the ground and resisted as security personnel tried to remove him from outside the PM’s residence.  According to Congress sources, Gandhi suffered an injury below his eye as well as minor injuries to his hands and legs. AAP’s Sanjay Singh alleged that the PM allowed Gandhi to stage a dharna outside his residence to “weaken the CJP protest”.

 

With agency inputs