Rahul presents student injured by pellet gun, calls Pradhan 'criminal education minister'

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday (July 24) escalated his attack on the Narendra Modi government over its handling of the student protests in New Delhi over the NEET exam paper leak fiasco. The senior Congress leader even brought before the media a youth who got injured during clashes with the security personnel, claiming that the latter sustained several injuries caused by pellet guns, including a damaged eye, as he countered the claim made by the government and Delhi Police that they were not used on the protesters during the “Chalo Sansad” march on Monday (July 20).

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The LoP also lashed out at Prime Minister Modi over his midnight video vowing stern action and the Delhi University authorities for asking students to stay away from protests.

Youth was protesting peacefully holding Tricolour: Rahul

Rahul said Sahil, the injured protester standing beside him who he addressed as his "brother", was protesting peacefully holding the Tricolour when the pellets hit him. He also lifted the youth’s light green T-shirt to show the injury marks on his arms and torso.

"This is the future of our country. This has happened to thousands of youth; they have been shot at with pellet guns and have been beaten up in lathi-charge. What are they doing? They are doing peaceful protests,” he said.

Several medical reports and victim statements confirmed that pellet guns were used. Delhi Police had also ruled out their usage.

“His (Sahil’s) mother and father, from their hard-earned money, had got him this opportunity. The government must stop lying. The government has attacked our future.

Also read: 'Congress faces real test once Parliament session ends'

“They are saying three things — the education minister, because of whom the students are protesting, and paper leaks happened, must be removed; action must be taken against those who have fired at our future and beat them with lathis. Narendra Modi, who is the operator of the system, should apologise to thousands of students,” Gandhi said.

“Stop assaulting and threatening our students,” he added.

LoP calls Pradhan 'criminal education minister'

Taking a dig at Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Congress leader called the latter a “criminal education minister” and a symbol of the collapse of our education system, he said, adding that Pradhan must be removed from his post.

Sahil, who was allegedly hit by a pellet in his right eye, said he demands justice. He has undergone one surgery to repair the injured eye and remove pellets and is awaiting another.

He was first taken to Lady Hardinge Medical College and later to Safdarjung Hospital before being shifted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre on Tuesday (July 21).

A pellet gun fires cartridges loaded with up to 600 metal or rubber pellets, which disperse in a widespread manner at speeds of 1,000 feet per second. The SOP is that the gun should be fired from a minimum distance of 500 feet. The muzzle of the gun should always targeted below the waist.

'No talks till Pradhan quits, PM apologies'

The LoP, who himself was physically removed and detained after he held a sit-in protest outside the prime minister’s residence in New Delhi earlier this week, also said that no talks would be held with the government till Pradhan stepped down, taking accountability for the exam-paper leaks and Modi apologised for the alleged police brutality committed against the students.

Speaking in the Parliament House complex, Rahul also claimed that he was not allowed to speak on the floor of the House.

Rahul also attacked Modi late on Thursday for allegedly sidestepping the issue of Pradhan's resignation in his video message released just before midnight, in which he promised that his government would take strict action on paper leaks.

Also read: Despite Modi's damage-control measures, why Pradhan still remains accountable

In a post on X, Gandhi said the prime minister should not insult the intelligence of students.

“Mr Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Don't insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video. 1. Sack Pradhan. 2. Punish those who beat students. 3. Apologise,” he said in a post.

Rahul slams DU

The opposition leader also lashed out at Delhi University on Friday after it urged students to “stay away” from Jantar Mantar protests, asking how dare it “threaten” students for exercising their democratic rights.

“Please note, you are the ones that will be held accountable when the time comes,” he said, tagging the university’s social media post that gave the advice to the students.