New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has decided not to celebrate his birthday this year in protest of the NEET paper leak and the police action against protesting students. Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, clarified on social media that using batons and tear gas against a peaceful democratic protest is unbecoming of any democratic country, and therefore, today is not a day for celebration but for demanding accountability from the government.
The Congress president launched a direct attack on the central government, questioning why force was used against young people demanding justice and why internet services were disrupted around the Parliament constituency. He demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on moral grounds. Kharge stressed the need for comprehensive reforms to the examination system, creating a secure digital infrastructure completely free from political and RSS interference.
An important strategic meeting of top leaders of the ‘India’ alliance was held on Tuesday morning to corner the government in the monsoon session of Parliament. Prominent leaders of the Samajwadi Party, Left parties and Shiv Sena, including Rahul Gandhi, met the Lok Sabha Speaker and prepared a roadmap to raise the issue strongly in the session. On the other hand, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, while supporting the government, said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly said in the NDA meeting that the government stands with the candidates and instead of politicizing a serious issue like paper leak, strictest action will be taken against the culprits.
