India: Opposition leader arrested during protests demanding the resignation of the prime minister and education minister

Indian police arrested opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, his sister Priyanka Gandhi, and several members of the Indian National Congress party, which he leads, along with leaders of other opposition parties who organized protests outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, demanding the resignation of Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the failure to manage medical college entrance exams.

Rahul Gandhi posted on social media that Modi must resign for “destroying the future of Indian youth.” The opposition leader in the legislative council added, “The government does not want any accountability nor does it want a debate on the issue in Parliament.” He emphasized that “protests for justice and for students will not stop.”

For its part, Modi’s government, in a brief statement, accused Gandhi of exploiting the student issue to advance his political agenda, asserting that his actions were inconsistent with the ethics expected of an opposition leader.

These developments followed police reports that 60 protesters were injured in clashes with security forces in central New Delhi last Monday during the largest march in the capital in about five years.

Thousands of demonstrators gathered to demand the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, following calls from the online activist group “Cricket People Party.”

Police deployed tear gas and attacked protesters with batons, while demonstrators retaliated by throwing stones. New Delhi police reported that 118 police officers were injured in the clashes.

The “Cricket People Party” vowed to continue its actions until the Education Minister resigns, while thousands of protesters continued their sit-in in New Delhi, calling for changes in the education system.