Opposition Parties Stage Parliament Protest, Rahul Gandhi Backs Protesters | WION Dispatch

[00:00:09][music] [music] >> Now deadlock continues to persist in the Indian Parliament. Opposition lawmakers are protesting against police action during the cockroach movement Parliament March. The first two days of the monsoon session have already been washed out and after repeated adjournments today Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have adjourned for the day.

[00:00:42]Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is ramping up pressure outside the Parliament after high octane showdown outside Prime Minister Modi's residence yesterday. [music] Rahul Gandhi addressed a press conference from Congress headquarters in New Delhi and expressed his full support to the protesting students. He called India's education system rigged and reiterated demands of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, PM Modi's apology and justice for students who faced police crackdown.

[00:01:25]>> Which was known to be one of the best education systems in the world is today a rigged system.

[00:01:39]I don't say this lightly.

[00:01:42]Thousands of students who are running around outside are not saying this lightly.

[00:01:47]Their demand completely legitimate demand is that Mr. Dharmendra [laughter] Pradhan who has failed The first demand completely legitimate demand is that Mr. >> [laughter] >> Dharmendra Pradhan who has failed as an education minister who is known to be corrupt should be relieved of his duties.

[00:02:19]100% [laughter] legitimate demand.

[00:02:20]Nothing wrong with it.

[00:02:23]>> Earlier in the day, parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju took the floor in Rajya Sabha. He said the government is ready to discuss the issue of NEET paper leak in the parliament.

[00:02:38]>> NEET exam >> Our government is ready to hold discussion on NEET exam paper leak for the future of students. It is our duty to inform people of India about the decisions and steps we have taken to curb paper leak.

[00:02:53]>> Yesterday, BJP leader JP Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh paid a visit to Sonam Wangchuk who is currently admitted to Medanta Hospital.

[00:03:03]Following the meeting, Wangchuk has written a letter saying central government has agreed to give compensation to the kin of students who committed suicide, hold a meaningful discussion in the parliament, and consider resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan. Additionally, Sonam Wangchuk has agreed to end his hunger strike if government promises no punitive action on protesters that took part in CJB's parliament march.

[00:03:30]Meanwhile, CJB founder Abhijit Dipke has urged Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike.

[00:03:36]Cockroach Movement's protest at Jantar Mantar continues. Authorities have closed 17 metro stations over security situation. All stations of the Lutyens area of the national capital will remain closed.

[00:04:01]>> About 15-20 minutes away from the protesting side of Jantar Mantar is the headquarters of the Congress party where sloganering can also be heard right now in early evening hours just after a press conference by leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi. Now, the opposition parties are doubling down on the government for the resignation of the education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

[00:04:23]On the sidelines of these developments, activist Sonam Wangchuk who has been on a hunger strike said that several leaders did come to meet him from the government as well as the opposition.

[00:04:33]And he has said that in addition to considering the resignation of the education minister and also financial compensation for students who died by suicide, Wangchuk has asked that there will be no legal action taken against students who have participated in the ongoing Jantar Mantar protest. It is only then that he will end his hunger strike.

[00:04:53]For now, it has been three days of monsoon session of parliament where it has only been uproar and adjournment.

[00:05:00]Can a fourth day tomorrow bring any semblance of discussion between the opposition and the government? That remains the big question. All this while thousands continue their protest at Jantar Mantar.

[00:05:11]In New Delhi with Rizwan Subeshi, this is Vanshika for Beyond World is One.

[00:05:21]>> [music]