The Delhi Police used tear gas and resorted to baton charges after protesters attempted to march towards Parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in major examinations, including question paper leaks and technical failures.
In a video message released late Monday evening, Rahul Gandhi said there was nothing wrong with the students’ actions and accused the government and police of responding inappropriately. He described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the “most anti-youth prime minister” and stated that using force against students was not an acceptable way to deal with their concerns.
Along with his statement, Gandhi shared a video showing the alleged police action and scenes from the student protest.
“Boys and girls who are walking the streets of Delhi are not criminals; they are demanding their rights. Their rights are to have an education system that respects them, an education system that is fair, and an education system that works,” Gandhi said, highlighting that India has a majority young population.
The protest followed activist Sonam Wangchuk being forcibly taken to a hospital on Saturday, ending his 21-day hunger strike in support of young protesters and the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement.
The CJP has gained millions of followers on social media since its launch in May, reflecting growing concerns among sections of the public regarding the education system and unemployment.
“Is this a war zone? Why is the police resorting to tear gas assault on peaceful protesters?” the CJP stated in a post on X.
Parts of central New Delhi experienced internet restrictions during the protest, while police stated that permission had not been granted for the demonstration.
Rahul Gandhi said the protesters had legitimate demands and urged the Prime Minister to address their concerns. He added that public dissatisfaction over the education system and the functioning of institutions had contributed to the youth movement.
According to Gandhi, the concerns raised by young people should be respected, as he claimed that many institutions were being controlled by a single organisation.
The CJP stated that two of its leaders met Union Minister JP Nadda and submitted a letter outlining their demands after the government reached out to them in the morning.
JP Nadda confirmed the meeting and said discussions were conducted in a cordial atmosphere. He stated that the proposal for talks came from the protesters.
“This morning, for the first time, a proposal came from the protesters to hold talks with the government, and our discussions have been ongoing since 11:50 am. The meeting took place in a cordial atmosphere. An initial verbal discussion was held in detail with their delegation, and they submitted a written petition to me around 4 PM. I have requested all the protesters to end their sit-in and assist the administration in restoring normalcy,” Nadda posted on X.
The confrontation between protesters and authorities has intensified debate over student concerns, examination reforms, and the government’s response to youth-led demonstrations. The developments have placed renewed focus on demands related to transparency, fairness, and accountability in the country’s education system.
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