A day after the dramatic sit-in demonstration led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi outside the Prime Minister's residence, Congress parliamentarians continued their agitation within the Parliament complex on Wednesday morning. Dressed symbolically in black, the Congress contingent gathered near the main entrance gates, where they were joined by several other Opposition lawmakers, including Samajwadi Party MPs wearing black scarves. The unified demonstration followed the detention of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alongside Congress leaders during Tuesday’s protest near Lok Kalyan Marg.
The Opposition amplified its demands by calling for the immediate resignations of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET examination controversy and Monday's police action against student protesters in the capital. While the Opposition had previously pushed for a structured parliamentary debate on the paper leak and subsequent police excesses, leaders insisted on Wednesday that any discussion would remain off the table until the Education Minister stepped down. Speaking on the matter, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera remarked that after the police baton-charge on students, accountability must take precedence over talk, reiterating that Pradhan’s resignation remains a non-negotiable prerequisite.
Meanwhile, government sources indicated that the Centre has agreed to allow discussions in both Houses of Parliament as initially requested by the Opposition, with the specific procedural rules for the debate to be finalised by the Speaker following consultation with party leaders. The change in position by the Opposition is in reaction to the five-point list presented by Rahul Gandhi, which demands the resignations of Shah and Pradhan, the disciplining of the police personnel responsible for the operation, and an apology by the Prime Minister. The BJP, in turn, claimed that Gandhi was taking advantage of the students' discontent in order to further his own interests politically and threatened to organise counter-protests across the country at Congress office locations.
Also read: BJP to hold nationwide protests against Congress
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