New Delhi: A day after Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) march to Parliament House turned violent, tensions resumed in the national capital on July 21, Tuesday, as senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi led a march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence, demanding accountability over the alleged examination paper leaks and the police action against CJP supporters and student protesters.
Lok Kalyan Marg, where the PM’s residence is located, was filled with hundreds of Congress workers, who reached there from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence on Rajaji Marg. The march drew a significant police presence as authorities moved to prevent demonstrators from reaching the high-security zone.
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In a notable development, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Jitendra Singh, visited the protest site and held discussions with Rahul Gandhi. According to Congress leaders, the meeting did not produce any agreement.
Congress leaders stated that they would continue their agitation, reiterating demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a detailed discussion in Parliament on the alleged NEET and other examination paper leaks.
Speaking to reporters, Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said the party would expand its protests, with more Members of Parliament, party workers and citizens expected to participate in the coming days.
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The Congress’s protest comes against the backdrop of Monday’s CJP-led demonstration, which witnessed confrontation between protesters and law enforcement agencies. Police used lathicharge and tear gas to disperse the crowd after the situation escalated.
The CJP alleged that several student protesters were injured during the police action and accused the authorities of using excessive force.
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Delhi Police, however, maintained that protesters turned violent, alleging that some participants pelted stones, damaged police vehicles and attacked security personnel. According to the police, 118 personnel, including senior officers, sustained injuries, while 70 protesters were detained during the unrest.
Posting on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress protest was intended to seek answers from the government over the handling of the student demonstrations. He accused the government of avoiding accountability and called for a parliamentary debate on the issue. He also demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Meanwhile, the BJP criticised the Congress march, alleging that the protest compromised the security of the Prime Minister’s residence. Congress leaders rejected the allegation, insisting that their demonstration remained peaceful and democratic.
Outside Parliament, Mallikarjun Kharge expressed disappointment over what he described as the Opposition being prevented from raising the issue during the Monsoon Session. He questioned why discussion on the alleged assault on student protesters was not allowed in the House and said the Opposition had been denied an opportunity to present its concerns.
Parliament has witnessed repeated disruptions since the Monsoon Session began, with Opposition parties seeking discussions on the examination paper leak controversy and the events surrounding the student protests.
The Centre has maintained that it is willing to engage with those raising concerns over the examination system but has also emphasised that acts of violence during protests will not be tolerated.
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Government representatives met members of the protesting CJP on Monday, while Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda also visited hospitals where some injured protesters were receiving treatment.
Addressing members of the NDA Parliamentary Party, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said preventing examination paper leaks was a national responsibility and reiterated that the government had acted promptly once reports of irregularities in the NEET examination emerged. According to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, the Prime Minister urged all political parties to work constructively in Parliament while ensuring that those responsible for examination malpractices are brought to justice.
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The controversy surrounding alleged examination paper leaks continues to dominate political discourse, with both Parliament and public protests expected to remain key arenas for the debate in the days ahead. 