New Delhi: Tensions over the NEET-UG examination controversy and recent police actions against student demonstrators escalated on Wednesday as Opposition lawmakers staged a silent, black-clad demonstration inside Parliament complex.
This came even as Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh met fasting activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram, offering the government’s assurance to initiate a debate on education reforms in Parliament.
Black-Clad Opposition Demands Resignations at Parliament
Demonstrating unified resistance, Congress MPs turned up at the Parliament complex dressed in black to protest outside the gates. Joined by lawmakers from several allied Opposition parties, including Samajwadi Party (SP) MPs wearing black scarves, the protesters demanded the immediate resignations of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protests follow Monday’s police crackdown on demonstrators at Jantar Mantar and Tuesday’s dramatic march by toward 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the Prime Minister’s residence, where Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and others, including Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, were detained.
The opposition has been pressing for a full parliamentary discussion on the NEET paper leak controversy and related examination reforms, along with the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah
Government Outreach to Activist Sonam Wangchuk
In a parallel development, Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh visited climate activist Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram on Tuesday evening. Wangchuk, who entered the 24th day of his hunger strike over examination irregularities and educational governance, was transferred from Safdarjung Hospital to Medanta following a Delhi High Court directive.
During an hour-long meeting, the two Ministers enquired about Wangchuk’s health and formally conveyed the Centre’s commitment to holding an exhaustive discussion on educational reforms in the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. They urged him to appeal to students to trust the process and avoid escalation, according to sources.
Wangchuk, admitted to the ICU under the care of specialists, had been protesting alongside broader student-led agitations, including those organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar.
BJP Launches Sharp Counteroffensive
The BJP responded aggressively to the opposition’s actions, accusing Rahul Gandhi of undermining the dignity of the Prime Minister’s residence. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad led the charge at a press conference, questioning Gandhi’s approach and highlighting his family’s political legacy.
“Someone from a family that produced three Prime Ministers should have understood the dignity attached to the Prime Minister’s residence,” Prasad remarked, describing the protest as “irresponsible” and “highly condemnable.” He announced that the BJP would organise protests outside Congress offices nationwide in retaliation.
Prasad defended the police intervention in the high-security zone as necessary for maintaining law and order.
On the NEET issue, he asserted that the government had swiftly addressed past irregularities in various states, conducted foolproof exams, declared results with high success rates, and arrested those involved. He emphasised that the government views all candidates as its children and remains committed to systemic reforms under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Giriraj Singh sharpened the assault, asserting that Gandhi’s actions had “tarnished the dignity of the Constitution” and calling for sedition charges against the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition.
