Jitendra Singh Talks Fail: Rahul, Priyanka To Continue Overnight Protest Near PM Residence

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi sat on a dharna near the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday. The protest was against the lathi charge on students demonstrating at Jantar Mantar. Several opposition leaders joined the march which moved towards Lok Kalyan Marg. Paramilitary forces were deployed on the road outside the PM's residence as the march approached.

What happened during the protest?

Union Minister Jitendra Singh reached the protest site and tried to speak with Rahul Gandhi. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan was also present. The talks went nowhere and Jitendra Singh left without any resolution. Congress declared it would continue the dharna through the night outside the Prime Minister's residence.

Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjuna Kharge along with several other leaders tied their hands together with nylon ropes during the march. Several Congress MPs were detained by police during the demonstration. Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was also detained. After being taken into custody Channi said it was BJP's terrorism and that the government refuses to listen to students.

Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said after being detained that if this is how MPs are being treated, one can imagine what is happening to the students.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

Rahul posted on X that the march was to demand answers from PM Modi over the cruelty shown to young students the previous day. He said the government does not want to take any accountability and does not want the matter debated in Parliament. He called for the Prime Minister and Home Minister to resign for destroying the future of India's youth.

Why did opposition come to PM's home?

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain explained the reason. He said Rahul Gandhi and Kharge tried to raise in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha the issue of lathi charges, water cannons and tear gas being used on students who had gathered organically from across the country. But they were not allowed to speak. No opposition MP was allowed to speak. The Prime Minister does not even come to Parliament. So all opposition MPs came to his home so their voice could be heard.