Buses carrying INDIA bloc MPs reach Gandhi Smriti after cops briefly stop them
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday led a delegation of INDIA bloc MPs towards Gandhi Smriti in central Delhi in a
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday led a delegation of INDIA bloc MPs towards Gandhi Smriti in central Delhi in a show of solidarity with students protesting over the NEET-UG paper leak. A convoy of three buses carrying the MPs was briefly stopped outside Gandhi's residence by Delhi Police barricades and police vehicles before being allowed to proceed. Read Full Story Senior Congress and INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, gathered at Rahul Gandhi's residence at 5, Sunehri Bagh Road before boarding three buses for Gandhi Smriti at Tees January Marg. The Opposition said the visit was intended to pay tribute to students who died by suicide following the paper leak and to express solidarity with those injured during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protests. Soon after the convoy left Rahul Gandhi's residence, the buses moved only a few metres before being stopped. A Delhi Police bus was parked in front of the convoy, while two other police buses were stationed behind it. Barricades were placed across the route as police repeatedly made announcements over loudspeakers citing prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Security was tightened again further along the route as the march headed towards the high-security Lutyens' Delhi zone. "Our students are on the streets, so we too have come out on the streets.
We were heading to Gandhi Smriti, but we have been stopped. All our MPs wanted to go there, but permission was denied. They have parked buses here and we are unable to move ahead," Rahul Gandhi told reporters after the convoy was halted. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also questioned the police action. "Those who are allowed to enter Parliament, can they not go to Gandhi Smriti? The government has parked its buses here even though it knew we were leaving from this point. Why these barricades? Are we goons or criminals?" he added. After a brief standoff, police opened the barricades and allowed the convoy to proceed towards Gandhi Smriti. Rahul Gandhi's convoy slowly moved through central Delhi, though security remained exceptionally tight throughout the route. The Opposition's march came as the CJP has been spearheading protests over the NEET row and examination irregularities since June 6. It has demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan be immediately sacked and Rs 1 crore compensation be given to the families of those who died by suicide after the NEET paper leak. The march also came days after Rahul Gandhi was detained near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence while leading MPs in support of the CJP-led agitation. Gandhi also suffered a minor nose injury as he was confronted and dragged away by the police.
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