‘Modi is a thing of the past’: Rahul Gandhi lashes out at PM, seeks Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation amid CJP protests | Today’s news
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that while students are the future of the country, PM Modi is the past and the past can never fight the future.
Gandhi made the remarks while speaking to reporters after meeting a group of protesting students, including a young girl who had injured her leg, at his residence. The Congress MP said their demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation was non-negotiable, adding that nothing less would be acceptable, news agency PTI reported.
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Students who are part of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing concerns about corruption and incompetence in his administration.
Rahul Gandhi said that while students are the future of the country, PM Modi symbolizes the past, suggesting that the outdated leadership cannot effectively address the needs of the future.
Sonam Wangchuk emphasized that he ended his 26-day hunger strike to prevent potential violence against the protesters and clarified that he had not reached an agreement with the government and was instead focused on the welfare of the students.
The CJP and student protesters believe he should step down due to alleged incompetence and systemic problems in education, making their demand a central focus of their protests.
The protests were sparked by alleged irregularities in India’s education system, particularly after the NEET-UG paper leak controversy that began on June 20 and intensified during recent events.
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Rahul Gandhi lends support to CJP protesters
He said, “The students’ demand is to sack Dharmendra Pradhan and that is non-negotiable,” adding, “There are three non-negotiable demands (of the students). Dharmendra Pradhan, who is corrupt, incompetent and misaligned, must be sacked.”
Claiming to have learned that a section of the Union Cabinet was considering shifting Pradhan to another ministry, Gandhi said such a move would not solve the problem. Extending support for the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar, the Congress leader also noted that he had told the students that no pressure from the government could force their removal from the protest site.
He added, “I told the students not to worry. No force will move them from there (Jantar Mantar). They can shut down (internet) and intimidate, but the students will not leave.”
Student protests are getting stronger
His remarks came as protests in Delhi, led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), intensified. The CJP has been protesting since June 20 over alleged irregularities in the country’s education system, especially after the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
Chaotic scenes unfolded earlier on Monday after students took out the proposed ‘Chalo Sansad’ march to coincide with the opening of the monsoon session of Parliament. While the CJP students and protesters continued their protest, Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel resorted to lathi charge and tear gas in an attempt to disperse the large crowd. However, many students have since joined the protests at Jantar Mantar and several other states have also witnessed protests demanding accountability.
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Last week, climate activist and educationist Sonam Wangchuk, who joined the June 28 protest and began an indefinite hunger strike, was forcibly removed from the protest site by Delhi Police personnel and transferred to Safdarjung Hospital, which staff said was in compliance with a court order to attend to Wangchuk’s deteriorating health. On 18 July, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke was detained by the police, following which he went on a hunger strike.
On Thursday evening, Wangchuk, who was taken to Medanta Hospital on a court order, ended his 26-day hunger strike in the presence of Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh. The activist cited the government’s written assurance regarding the resolution of the ongoing protests and withdrawal of charges against all students involved in the protests. After being criticized for ending the strike, Wangchuk released a video on Friday highlighting the circumstances that led to his decision, adding that his focus was not on Pradhan’s resignation, but rather on the students’ future.
With the protests showing no signs of abating, pressure on the Center continues to mount due to student demands.
