THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Congress leaders in Goa on Wednesday condemned the detention of Rahul Gandhi, calling it an “assault on democratic values and freedom of expression”. They submitted a memorandum to Governor Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju seeking justice for students who allegedly faced police action during protests on July 20.
A five-member delegation led by GPCC president Girish Chodankar, along with working presidents MK Shaikh, Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Sunil Kawthankar and Youth Congress president Archit Naik, met the Governor at Raj Bhavan. They urged him to forward the memorandum to the President of India and the Union Government.
The Congress demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi issue an unconditional public apology to students and introduce comprehensive reforms in the education and examination systems to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness.
In the memorandum, Congress leaders stated that Rahul Gandhi’s detention while he was “peacefully attempting to stand in solidarity with students” was “a direct assault on democratic values, freedom of expression, and the constitutional role of the Opposition”.
They also referred to the events of July 20, alleging that protesting students were “attacked, humiliated and subjected to excessive force”. They said the incidents had “deeply shocked the conscience of the nation”.
The GPCC demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for the alleged failure to protect students’ interests and the decline of the education and examination systems.
It also sought the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that the law-and-order machinery had been used to detain democratic leaders and suppress peaceful student protests.
The memorandum further called for an impartial inquiry into the alleged use of force against students, withdrawal of criminal cases against those who took part in peaceful protests, and a detailed discussion on the issue in both Houses of Parliament.
