Rahul Gandhi tells PM Modi to act rather than merely make videos, as the Leader of Opposition met a group of students who had sat on a 23-day hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on Saturday, part of demonstrations led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), according to NDTV. Flanked by the students, Gandhi renewed his demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, calling him a symbol of “corruption and destruction” of the education system.
Gandhi said that transferring Pradhan to another ministry would not be acceptable to the protesting students, NDTV reported. “We have come to know that there is talk within the government to move Pradhan to some other ministry. This will not be acceptable. Students are clear that Pradhan will have to go out of the government,” he said.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s late-night video messages to young people, Rahul Gandhi tells PM Modi that students were seeking action rather than assurances, according to NDTV. “PM is busy making videos late at night these days. He says he is grateful for suggestions. But students are demanding action, not assurances. PM must act and sack Dharmendra Pradhan,” he said.
Gandhi pointed to an injury on the leg of one of the students present, saying those responsible for attacking protesters must be held accountable, NDTV reported. “Those who have assaulted our students will have to pay the price. There should be action against those who fired pellets and used lathis on the protesting students,” he said.
Gandhi repeated his call for the prime minister to apologise to students injured during the demonstrations, according to NDTV. “As the leader of the entire machinery, the Prime Minister must apologise to the students who were assaulted in Delhi,” he said, adding that Modi represented India’s “past” while students represented its future.
Gandhi said the demands were those of the students themselves and that he was simply repeating them, calling them non-negotiable, NDTV reported. Neha Bora of the All India Students’ Association, who had sat on the 23-day hunger strike alongside fellow protesters, said the group held a productive discussion with Gandhi on the state of India’s education system and reiterated the call for Pradhan’s resignation, according to NDTV.
The meeting took place amid continuing protests linked to the CJP movement, which has centred on demands for education reforms and accountability over examination paper leaks. Further details on India’s education policy framework are available through the Ministry of Education.
Gandhi’s meeting with the students comes as the protest movement continues to draw attention to concerns surrounding India’s education system and the treatment of young demonstrators. The students have been demanding accountability from the government and action against those they accuse of using force during protests. Their calls have also focused on wider education-related issues, including concerns over examination paper leaks and the need for greater transparency in the country’s education system.
The presence of Gandhi at Jantar Mantar gave the protesting students an opportunity to publicly reiterate their demands. His comments also placed renewed political pressure on the central government and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Gandhi said the government should respond through concrete action rather than statements or video messages, while insisting that the students’ demands should not be ignored.
The development comes amid heightened political debate over the government’s handling of student protests. While Gandhi has backed the protesters’ demands, the government has faced calls to address concerns through dialogue and ensure that any disputes involving students are resolved peacefully. The ongoing demonstrations and political reactions are expected to keep education policy and student concerns in the national spotlight in the coming days.
The protests have drawn sustained national attention in recent weeks, spreading from Delhi to cities including Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai, according to NDTV. The demonstrations form part of the wider movement in which the CJP protest challenges the Modi government over education reforms and paper leaks. Whether the government will act on the students’ demand for Pradhan’s resignation, or whether ongoing talks will lead to a resolution, remains unclear based on available reporting. NDTV’s original report is available here: CJP Protest Jantar Mantar Dharmendra Pradhan: Students By His Side, Rahul Gandhi Tells PM Modi ‘Want Action, Not Videos’.
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