Rahul Gandhi, Political tensions intensified on Monday after opposition leaders strongly criticised the government’s handling of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest in the national capital. The criticism came after police used force to stop protesters attempting to march towards Parliament during the “Sansad Chalo” campaign, which was organised over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and broader concerns surrounding the country’s examination system.
Rahul Gandhi and Several opposition leaders accused the government of suppressing the voices of students instead of addressing their concerns regarding examination paper leaks and accountability. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor all questioned the government’s response to the protest and called for greater attention to issues affecting students across the country.
The protest, organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), witnessed thousands of students, activists, and supporters gathering in Delhi to demand accountability over alleged examination irregularities, including the NEET paper leak case. As protesters attempted to move towards Parliament, Delhi Police intervened to stop the march, leading to confrontations and a reported lathi charge at certain locations.
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Opposition Parties Corner Government Over Police Action
Following the clashes between protesters and police, opposition parties launched a sharp attack on the Central Government, alleging that students raising legitimate concerns were met with force instead of dialogue.
Leaders from multiple opposition parties questioned the government’s handling of the protest and argued that issues relating to education, examination transparency, and student welfare deserved serious discussion rather than police action.
The incident quickly became a major political issue as opposition leaders used social media and public statements to criticise the government’s response.
Rahul Gandhi Slams Government
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi strongly criticised the government through a post on social media platform X.
Targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government had failed to address concerns surrounding examination irregularities while taking action against students participating in peaceful demonstrations.
He stated that the Prime Minister was “the most anti-youth Prime Minister in the history of India” and questioned why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had not resigned despite repeated controversies surrounding examinations.
Rahul Gandhi also referred to alleged examination paper leaks and claimed that millions of students had been affected while those responsible had not been held accountable.
According to him, students who raised concerns about the education system were subjected to police action instead of receiving answers from the government.
Rahul Gandhi Questions Government’s Priorities
Continuing his criticism, Rahul Gandhi alleged that those responsible for examination paper leaks remained free while students demanding accountability faced detention and police action.
He said that when young people raised legitimate questions regarding the education system, they were met with batons instead of solutions.
According to Rahul Gandhi, the government’s response reflected a failure to address the concerns of students and youth across the country.
His remarks quickly attracted widespread political attention as debates surrounding examination reforms continued to dominate public discourse.
Akhilesh Yadav Criticises Government
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav also criticised the government’s handling of the protest.
In his statement, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that a large number of young people had suffered injuries during the protest and described the situation as a major failure.
He questioned the government’s ability to conduct examinations in a transparent manner and alleged that irregularities in competitive examinations had severely affected students.
According to him, concerns regarding examination integrity should be addressed seriously rather than ignored.
Akhilesh Yadav Raises Questions on NEET
Earlier, Akhilesh Yadav had also shared a message on social media referring to the growing frustration among young people.
He wrote that revolutions emerge when people’s disappointment reaches its limit and when individuals choose to stand up for themselves.
Although expressed in symbolic language, his remarks were widely interpreted as support for students participating in the ongoing protest movement.
His comments added further political momentum to the opposition’s criticism of the government’s handling of examination-related issues.
Shashi Tharoor Questions Lathi Charge
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also expressed concern over the reported police action during the protest.
Speaking on the issue, Tharoor questioned the justification for using force against demonstrators.
He stated that when a protest is non-violent, there should be no reason for a lathi charge.
According to him, a lathi charge itself constitutes an act of violence, and he questioned the logic behind using such measures against protesters.
His remarks focused on the importance of allowing peaceful democratic protests without unnecessary use of force.
Tharoor Calls for Parliamentary Discussion
Apart from commenting on the police action, Shashi Tharoor also raised concerns regarding discussions inside Parliament.
He said the opposition had been demanding debates on several important public issues, including matters relating to the NEET examination and concerns affecting students.
According to Tharoor, the opposition wanted these issues to be discussed inside Parliament so that the concerns of citizens could be addressed through democratic processes.
He argued that Parliament exists to debate important national issues and questioned why the government appeared reluctant to allow discussions on subjects raised by the opposition.
Protest Focused on Examination Reforms
The protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party centred on demands relating to examination reforms and accountability.
Participants alleged that repeated examination controversies had weakened public confidence in the country’s education system.
Protesters demanded greater transparency in competitive examinations, stronger safeguards against paper leaks, and accountability from authorities responsible for conducting national-level examinations.
The movement has also called for action against those found responsible for alleged examination irregularities.
Police Action During ‘Sansad Chalo’ March
The controversy began after protesters participating in the “Sansad Chalo” march attempted to move towards Parliament House.
Delhi Police had earlier clarified that permission had not been granted for the march and that prohibitory orders remained in force across the New Delhi district.
As protesters approached security barricades, police intervened to stop further movement.
During the confrontation, reports emerged of a lathi charge as security personnel attempted to disperse sections of the crowd and prevent entry into restricted areas near Parliament.
The police maintained that security arrangements were necessary to ensure law and order during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Political Debate Intensifies
The police action has now become the latest flashpoint between the ruling government and opposition parties.
While opposition leaders argue that students raising concerns deserve dialogue and accountability, the administration has maintained that maintaining law and order around Parliament remains essential during the ongoing parliamentary session.
The issue has also intensified political debate over examination reforms, student welfare, and the government’s handling of public protests.
Education Issues Continue to Dominate Discussion
The controversy surrounding the protest has once again brought attention to concerns over competitive examinations in the country.
Repeated allegations of examination irregularities and paper leaks have led to growing demands for stronger safeguards, greater transparency, and improved accountability in the education system.
Student organisations and various political groups have continued calling for reforms aimed at restoring confidence in examination processes.
The ongoing protest reflects the broader national discussion surrounding educational governance and institutional accountability.
The opposition has intensified its criticism of the government following the police action against CJP supporters during the “Sansad Chalo” protest in Delhi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor questioned the use of force against protesters and urged the government to focus on addressing concerns related to the NEET examination, alleged paper leaks, and education reforms rather than taking action against students. While the government has defended the security measures implemented during the march, the incident has further fuelled political debate over examination transparency, student welfare, and the need for greater accountability within India’s education system.
The debate raised by Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders is expected to continue as discussions around education reforms and examination accountability remain ongoing.
