Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday expressed deep anguish over the police crackdown on student protesters, saying the nation had witnessed lathicharges, tear gas shells and the "crushing" of a peaceful democratic protest by the government.
Citing the developments, Kharge said he had decided not to celebrate his birthday in protest against the use of force on youth demanding justice.
Today is not a day for celebration, but it is a day to seek accountability and restore democracy, Kharge said on X as he turned 84 on Tuesday.
"Yesterday, the nation witnessed lathicharges, tear gas shells, and the crushing of a peaceful Democratic protest by the Government. The voices of students demanding justice were met with force instead of answers," Kharge said on X.
This is not how a 'Mother of Democracy' treats its young children, the Congress president said.
"In these painful circumstances, I have decided not to celebrate my birthday today," he said referring to the "Sansad Chalo" protest on Monday.
"I am deeply grateful to all Congress leaders, workers, supporters, well wishers, and every citizen who has conveyed their warm wishes. Your affection means a great deal to me, and I thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart," Kharge said.
"But today is not a day for celebration. It is a day to seek accountability. Restore Democracy," he said.
Why were students demanding justice met with brutal 'lathis' and tear gas, he asked.
"Why was the Parliament virtually sealed and the internet shutdown? Who will take responsibility for repeated paper leaks and the suffering of lakhs of young people?" Kharge said.
He demanded that the government must immediately allow a full discussion on this issue in Parliament.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, must resign, taking moral and political responsibility for the matter, Kharge said.
He further demanded a 21st century student centric examination system with secure digital question banks and randomised papers.
He called for an independent and merit driven education system, with higher spending on education, free from the political interference of the RSS.
Kharge also demanded statutory protection for students through mandatory re-examinations and compensation, whenever examination irregularities occur.
"Our children deserve justice, not repression," he asserted.
The Congress on Tuesday said the police action against protesters during the "Sansad Chalo" march over irregularities in examinations is a "shameful chapter" in the list of injustices inflicted upon the youth by the government.
The opposition party warned that those who beat the country's youth under orders from people in power will one day have to face the "lathi" of the Constitution.
Opposition parties had launched a blistering attack on the government over the police action against the Cockroach Janta Party-led "Sansad Chalo" march, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the "most anti-youth" prime minister in the country's history.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against protesters to prevent them from reaching Parliament, alleging that several students were injured and activist Sonam Wangchuk's wife Gitanjali J Angmo was pushed around.
Delhi Police, however, denied that Angmo was assaulted, saying the reports were "completely false and misleading".
"No individuals were subjected to targeted assault," it said.
Opposition parties protested over the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament and demanded a discussion, stalling proceedings on the opening day of the Monsoon Session.
(With inputs from PTI)
