Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has supported the demands of protesting students and urged the government to respond to what he called the main concerns arising from the ongoing paper leak crisis.
Gandhi told the media in Delhi that parents of students had made enormous financial sacrifices to support their children's education and that the government should respond with accountability rather than denial.
VIDEO | Delhi: Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi says, "These students' parents gave them opportunities through their hard-earned money. The government must stop lying. It has attacked the future of this country, and the youth are making just three demands. First,… pic.twitter.com/w4577AdQ3s
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"The government must stop lying. It has attacked the future of this country," Gandhi said, asserting that youth participating in the protests only made three demands.
Gandhi said the first demand is to remove Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom the protesting students hold responsible for the paper leak issue and circumstances that led to the demonstrations. He said the protesters believe that political accountability is necessary before broader reforms can be implemented.
Gandhi’s second demand is action against those who are responsible for the alleged use of pellet guns and lathi-charge during the protests, he said. He claimed that many young protesters suffered injuries during the demonstrations and asked for accountability if excessive force had been used.
The third demand is for the Congress leader to apologize to all students affected by the examination issue and the protests. Gandhi said, as the head of the government, the government should act towards the hardships faced by thousands of young aspirants.
Gandhi said he was concerned about the condition of injured protesters and claimed some students had serious physical injuries. Referring to one injured person, he said he could not say with certainty whether the person’s eyesight could be saved, and that the students were not responsible for the situation that led to the protests.
The comments come amid political debate over examination irregularities and paper leak episodes that have brought protests and calls for reform. Opposition parties have called for more transparency, more robust guarantees for competitive examinations and accountability from those who should be held to account for any lapses.
The central government has also stated it is committed to the integrity of public examinations and has said investigations into reported irregularities are ongoing. Legal action will be taken against those persons who are responsible for examination-related crimes.
The issue has been at the heart of debates in the Parliament in the current session, with Opposition leaders demanding detailed responses from the government on examination reforms and student welfare. Student organizations and various stakeholders have also continued to call for measures to restore confidence in the country's examination system.
As the political dialogue continues, the government’s response to the concerns of students and opposition leaders is the topic of debate; other reforms to enhance exam security and accountability are also discussed.
