NEW DELHI, JUL 24 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday demanded the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, calling him a “criminal education minister” and a symbol of the collapse of India’s education system, as he presented before the media a student protester allegedly injured by a pellet gun during the July 20 demonstrations.
Gandhi also demanded action against those responsible for the alleged pellet firing and baton charge on students, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise to the country’s youth.
Addressing reporters, Gandhi stood alongside the injured protester, Sahil, who claimed he was struck by a pellet while peacefully protesting with the Tricolour.
Showing Sahil’s injuries to the media, Gandhi alleged that one of the student’s eyes had been damaged, leaving him unable to see from it. “This is the future of our country. Thousands of youth have been shot at with pellet guns and beaten in lathi-charge. They were holding peaceful protests,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
Gandhi said Sahil had appeared for a police recruitment examination, but the paper was leaked, accusing the government of destroying the aspirations of young people. “His parents worked hard to give him this opportunity. The government must stop lying. It has attacked our future. Stop assaulting and threatening our students,” the former Congress chief said.
Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns against protesters during the march.
