Congress Protests Against Alleged Lathi-Charge on Students, Marches Towards BJP Office in Mumbai

Mumbai, July 22: The Maharashtra Congress staged a protest march in Mumbai on Tuesday, condemning the alleged police lathi-charge on students protesting over the NEET paper leak and examination irregularities, as well as the treatment meted out to Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi during the demonstration.

Led by Maharashtra Congress President Harshvardhan Sapkal, party leaders and workers marched from Gandhi Bhavan towards the BJP office. The Congress said it intended to present a copy of the Constitution to BJP leaders, but police stopped and detained the protesters near Regal Cinema before they could reach the party office. Demonstrators raised slogans against the Central government, accusing it of undermining democracy and suppressing students’ voices.

Addressing a press conference before the march, Sapkal alleged that repeated examination irregularities had jeopardized the future of lakhs of students. He criticised the Centre over the NEET paper leak issue and claimed that student protests in Delhi were met with excessive police action. He also alleged that Rahul Gandhi, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, and other party MPs were treated unfairly during the protest.

The Congress demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police action on students. The party also sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a parliamentary discussion on examination irregularities, and the immediate withdrawal of FIRs registered against protesting students.

Sapkal said the Congress would continue its agitation and discuss future strategy with leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). He also expressed support for the Maharashtra bandh called by the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi.