Rahul Gandhi-led INDIA bloc MPs reach Gandhi Smriti to pay homage to students who ended lives over NEET-UG paper leak

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with INDIA Bloc MPs on Thursday paid homage to students who ended their lives over NEET-UG paper leak.

The Opposition MPs boarded a bus to head to the Gandhi Smriti.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

Gandhi said Opposition MPs decided to take to the streets in solidarity with the students who were protesting. He alleged that they were initially prevented from going to India Gate, and when they sought to visit Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg instead, their bus was stopped, preventing them from proceeding further.

Gandhi said the Opposition's primary message was to assure the students that it stood firmly with them.

"Our students are on the road, so all the opposition MPs felt that we should also be on the road. All the opposition MPs wanted to go to India Gate. They refused, stopped us. Then we said that we want to go Tees January( Gandhi Smriti). They have put the bus here and left it. We are not able to go ahead but the main message is to the students. We are with you..." Gandhi said while speaking to reporters, according to ANI.

INDIA Bloc meeting

In a post on X after the INDIA bloc meeting at his residence, Gandhi stated the opposition stood with the students who were injured during the police action on July 20.

Among those present at Gandhi's residence at 5, Sundari Bagh Road were Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, party general secretaries Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal, along with senior Congress leaders P. Chidambaram, Pramod Tiwari, K. Suresh and Praniti Shinde, as per PTI.

Leaders from several Opposition parties also attended the meeting, including the RJD's Sanjay Yadav, Sudhakar Singh and Misa Bharti, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, RSP's N. K. Premachandran, and TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Sugata Roy, among others.

"Right now, MPs and leaders of the INDIA alliance are peacefully heading to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg. We go to remember the students we lost - the children driven to take their own lives after the NEET paper leak. And we go to stand with the students who lie injured today - beaten for peacefully demanding justice and accountability. India's students are not alone. The entire Opposition stands with them and their demands," he stated.

The development comes amid a continued deadlock in Parliament over the NEET-UG paper leak issue, with the Opposition insisting on Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and invoking Rule 267 of the Rajya Sabha as preconditions for a discussion. The Centre, however, has maintained that it is willing to debate the issue and related matters, while urging the Opposition not to attach any conditions to the discussion.

CJP protest at Jantar Mantar

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), led by Abhijit Dipke, launched its protest at Jantar Mantar on June 20, demanding accountability for alleged examination irregularities, the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and compensation for the families of students who died by suicide in connection with the NEET paper leak.

On Monday, thousands of protesters assembled at Jantar Mantar for the CJP's 'Sansad Chalo' march to press these demands, despite extensive security arrangements in the area.

As protesters attempted to march towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session, police used lathi-charges and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The confrontation resulted in injuries to several protesters as well as police personnel.