Rahul Gandhi condemned a police lathicharge on student protesters during a Chowkidar Janta Party (CJP) march in Delhi on Monday [1].
The clash highlights escalating tensions between student activists and the government over educational grievances, including the NEET paper-leak controversy, and the limits of democratic protest in the capital.
Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition for the Indian National Congress, visited students at RML Hospital on Tuesday to meet those injured during the unrest [1]. He said the police response was "un-Indian and brutal," and that the Prime Minister must apologize to the youth [3].
During a meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker, Gandhi sought a formal discussion regarding the police action [2]. He said the Prime Minister has not apologized to the students who were beaten by the police [2].
Student protesters had gathered to voice concerns over education policies and the NEET controversy. The police crackdown resulted in significant casualties on both sides. Reports indicate that more than 100 police officers were injured during the clash [4]. Additionally, 70 police officers were detained following the events [4].
Gandhi said that students are not criminals and argued they were exercising their democratic right to protest [3]. The protesters eventually returned to the Jantar Mantar area, where several demonstrators remained detained [5].
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not issued a public statement regarding the incident as of Tuesday. Gandhi said he continues to question the silence of the Prime Minister regarding the violence used against the students [1].
“"The police action is un-Indian and brutal; the Prime Minister must apologise to the youth."”
This confrontation intensifies the political friction between the Indian National Congress and the current administration over civil liberties. By framing the police action as 'un-Indian,' Gandhi is attempting to align the opposition with the youth demographic, leveraging widespread frustration over the NEET paper-leak to challenge the government's record on education and law enforcement.
