Even though the nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination subsided following the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the Opposition is showing no signs of backing down.
As Parliament's monsoon session resumes on Monday after a week-long washout, INDIA bloc parties are expected to demand an urgent discussion on the alleged use of excessive force by Delhi Police against protesting students at Jantar Mantar.
Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose has already submitted a notice seeking the suspension of the day's business to take up what she described as a matter of "grave national importance."
The Opposition is also expected to intensify pressure on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over allegations that police used pellet guns and deployed plainclothes personnel during the protests. Several students and security personnel were injured after police stopped a 'Sansad Chalo' march organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on July 20.
In her notice to the Rajya Sabha Secretary-General, Ghose invoked Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business, seeking suspension of the House's scheduled business to allow an immediate discussion.
"The right to peaceful protest is a constitutional right in our country. Yet it is a matter of grave concern and alarm that student protesters, during their recent peaceful protest against irregularities in examination papers, were the targets of lethal and semi-lethal force from security agencies," the notice stated.
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas on Sunday said the Opposition would demand Amit Shah's resignation over the police action.
"Just the other day, Shah said the government respected the youth who led the protest. Where was that respect for the last 36 days? When students were being beaten on the streets of the national capital and their skulls were being cracked open, where was that respect?" Brittas asked.
"If there is even a grain of sincerity in those words, Amit Shah too should resign. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. The Home Minister, who is responsible for this brutal assault on innocent students, must also resign," he added.
On Sunday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi wrote to Shah, demanding accountability for what he described as a "barbaric assault" on students. Gandhi alleged that hundreds of students suffered serious injuries during the police action and accused security personnel of deliberately assaulting women protesters, including targeting their private parts.
"Most shocking has been the use of lethal pellet guns. Reports in the media and on social media clearly show people who have suffered grave injuries, including a journalist. I met 19-year-old student Sahil Lochab, who is now in severe pain and is likely to lose an eye because he was shot with pellet guns," Gandhi wrote.
The issue is expected to dominate proceedings in both Houses on Monday, with the Opposition seeking to corner the government despite Pradhan's resignation and the Centre's announcement of a series of measures aimed at preventing future examination paper leaks.
The first week of the Monsoon Session was largely washed out as Opposition parties staged protests in support of the CJP-led agitation over the alleged NEET-UG irregularities.
