Panaji: Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) leaders on Wednesday submitted a memorandum to Governor P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju condemning the detention of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and demanding action against those responsible for the alleged crackdown on protesting students.
A five-member delegation led by GPCC President Girish Chodankar, along with Working Presidents M. K. Shaikh, Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Sunil Kawthankar, and Youth Congress President Archit Naik, met the Governor at Lok Bhavan and submitted the memorandum.
The Congress alleged that Gandhi was detained while he was peacefully expressing solidarity with students protesting against the Centre’s handling of the education system.
The memorandum described the detention of the Leader of Opposition as “an assault on democratic values, freedom of expression, and the constitutional role of the Opposition.”
The party also referred to the alleged use of force against protesting students on July 20, claiming that the incident had “shocked the conscience of the nation.”
The GPCC urged the Governor to forward its memorandum to the President of India and the Union Government.
Among its demands, the Congress sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging failure to safeguard students’ interests and address issues in the education and examination system.
The party also demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding him accountable for the law-and-order machinery that, it alleged, detained democratic leaders and suppressed peaceful student protests.
The memorandum called for an impartial inquiry into the alleged use of force against students, withdrawal of criminal cases against students who participated in peaceful protests, and a discussion on the issue in both Houses of Parliament.
The Congress further demanded that the Prime Minister issue an unconditional public apology to students and initiate comprehensive reforms in the education and examination systems to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness.
The GPCC said it remained committed to protecting constitutional values and democratic rights and would continue to support students in their pursuit of justice and a transparent education system.
