Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that students are the future of India, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the past, and the past can never fight the future. Gandhi made the remarks after meeting a group of protesting students at his residence, including a young girl who had injured her leg.
Gandhi said the students’ demand for the ouster of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is non-negotiable, and nothing short of it will be acceptable. He claimed that he had heard that a section of the Union Cabinet is suggesting moving Pradhan to another ministry, but said any such move will be of no help.
The demand of the students is to sack Dharmendra Pradhan, and that is non-negotiable, Gandhi said. There are three non-negotiable demands [of the students]. Dharmendra Pradhan, who is corrupt, incompetent and misaligned, must be sacked, he added.
Gandhi also said that he told the students that no amount of pressure by the Centre can force their removal from the protest site at Jantar Mantar. Terming the students the future of the country, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the past and the past can never fight the future.
The remarks come amid raging protests in the capital led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), demanding reforms in the examination system and the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak, among others. Later, Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister, citing the need to ensure national unity and protect the interests of students.
The Congress and other Opposition parties welcomed Pradhan’s resignation, but demanded further action, including an apology from Prime Minister Modi and action against those responsible for violence against students. The Aam Aadmi Party also hailed the resignation as a big win for democracy.
The protests at Jantar Mantar were marked by clashes between students and security forces, with several students injured. The Centre had approved a draft Bill with provisions for a jail term up to 10 years, penalty up to Rs 10 crore, statutory backing for fast-track courts, and a five-month timeline for investigation and trial of cases related to the NEET paper leak.
Pradhan’s resignation was seen as a victory for the students and the Opposition, who had been demanding his ouster over the NEET paper leak and other issues. The Congress and other Opposition parties said they would continue to press for further action, including an apology from Prime Minister Modi and action against those responsible for violence against students.
