Rahul Lists 3 Demands, Including PM Apology, Pradhan's Removal
Gandhi alleged that India's education system had been "captured" and said the protest reflected the voice of students across the country
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reiterated students' demand for the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET controversy, saying their demands were "non-negotiable."
Addressing the media after interacting with students on a hunger strike, Gandhi alleged that India's education system had been "captured" and said the protest reflected the voice of students across the country.
"I had a discussion with our students who were on a hunger strike regarding the movement, the RSS, and how Hindustan's education system has been captured. The main point we want to convey is that the students have three demands, and these are non-negotiable demands--and this is not just me speaking, this is the students of India saying this," Gandhi said.
Listing the demands, Gandhi said the first was the dismissal of Dharmendra Pradhan.
"The Education Minister, who is corrupt, incompetent and misaligned, must be sacked," he said, adding that reports suggesting Pradhan could be shifted to another ministry were "completely unacceptable."
"There will be no conversation about moving Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan here or there. He must be sacked," Gandhi said.
Referring to students allegedly injured during protests, the Congress leader demanded action against those responsible.
"Yesterday, I introduced a young man who was shot in the eye, and there are thousands of youngsters whose legs were broken by lathis and whose bodies are filled with pellets. The people responsible for this... need to be punished and held accountable," he said.
Gandhi also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students over the handling of the protests.
"The leader of this entire machinery driving these actions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, must apologise for what he has done to the students and the future of this country," he said.
Reiterating his position, Gandhi said transferring Pradhan to another ministry would not resolve the issue, describing the minister as "the very symbol" of what had happened to students.
He maintained that the students' three demands -- Pradhan's removal, action against those responsible for the alleged use of force on protesters, and an apology from the Prime Minister -- were non-negotiable.
