Rahul Gandhi also held a press conference in Delhi on paper leak on July 22.
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi held a press conference on the alleged paper leak issue for the second consecutive day today, reiterating his demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
“Dharmendra Pradhan must step down. The government may try to shift him to another ministry, but we will not allow that to happen,” Rahul said.
He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to the country’s youth. “Narendra Modi represents India’s past, and the past can never compete with the future,” Rahul said.
Several students joined Rahul at the press conference. On Friday, he had also addressed the media on the issue, accompanied by a student who was injured during the 20 July protests over the alleged paper leak.
Key highlights from Rahul Gandhi’s press conference
- Rahul Gandhi reiterates the three key demands put forward by the protesting students.
- Demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying accountability cannot be avoided.
- Urges Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students for the government’s handling of the protests and the alleged paper leak.
- Student says no anti-paper leak law can replace accountability, insisting that Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation remains essential.
- Rahul Gandhi praises the students, calling them “India’s greatest strength” and saying he is proud of them for standing up against what he described as a government “attacking institutions and weakening the Constitution”.
Rahul calls Dharmendra Pradhan a ‘criminal education minister’, demands resignation
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, calling him a “criminal education minister” during a press conference at his residence, 10 Janpath. He was joined by Sahil, a student who was injured during the recent protests over the alleged NEET paper leak.
“Dharmendra Pradhan is a criminal education minister. He symbolises the collapse of our education system. He must resign. Thousands of people are on the streets because of him,” Rahul said.
He also drew attention to Sahil’s injuries, showing wounds on his hand, back and chest. “My brother standing here was hit by a pellet while peacefully protesting with the Tricolour,” Rahul said.
On 20 July, the Cockroach Janata Party organised a march to Parliament over the alleged NEET paper leak. The protest turned violent, with clashes between demonstrators and Delhi Police leaving more than 100 students and police personnel injured. Sahil was among those injured.
Rahul showed the injured student’s injuries; 2 photos
Rahul first showed the injury on Sahil’s hand.
Then Rahul lifted Sahil’s T-shirt and showed the wound on his back.
Only a 1% chance of Sahil regaining his eyesight
The student whose injury Rahul showed is named Sahil Lochab. He is 19 years old and lives in Najafgarh, South-West Delhi.
On July 20, during a protest at Jantar Mantar, he lost sight in his right eye due to a police pellet gun. Surgery was performed at AIIMS’ Jai Prakash Narayan Apex Trauma Centre.
According to the family, doctors have stated that there is only a 1% chance of regaining sight in the injured eye, as the pupil has suffered severe damage.
Sahil is a student of the School of Open Learning (SOL) at Delhi University. His mother, Jyoti, said, ‘He had previously attended CJP protests. On Monday too, he left saying it was important for him and related to his studies. He always wanted to become a police officer.’
This picture is from July 20, when Sahil was taken to the hospital after being injured during the protest. Eye surgery was performed.
Sahil also has pellet gun wounds on his chest. Most of the injuries are on the right side of his body.
