Congress protests outside PM Modi’s residence over police crackdown on CJP, students

The protest was led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by senior party leaders, who accused the government of using excessive force against students protesting for reforms in the country’s education system

NEW DELHI: India’s opposition Congress party staged a protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday, condemning the police action against student demonstrators and demanding the resignation of both the prime minister and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The protest was led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by senior party leaders, who accused the government of using excessive force against students protesting for reforms in the country’s education system.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi strongly criticised the police response, calling the use of tear gas and baton charges against peaceful protesters “shameful” and “undemocratic.” He said students had gathered to press legitimate demands concerning the future of India’s education system and alleged that the government had failed to address their concerns.

The demonstration follows clashes in New Delhi a day earlier, when thousands of students assembled at Jantar Mantar to protest over education-related issues. Videos shared on social media showed confrontations between protesters and police, drawing criticism from opposition parties and rights advocates.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court declined an urgent hearing on a petition challenging the alleged police violence during the protest. Indian media reported that the court scheduled the matter for a regular hearing on Wednesday.

The student demonstrations and the opposition’s protest have intensified political pressure on the Modi government, with Congress accusing authorities of suppressing peaceful dissent through excessive use of force.