Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: A delegation of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC), led by its President Girish Chodankar, submitted a memorandum to Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai at Raj Bhavan, condemning the detention of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and seeking action over the alleged use of force against students during recent protests.
The five-member delegation included GPCC Working Presidents M.K. Shaikh, Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira and Sunil Kawthankar, along with Youth Congress President Adv. Archit Naik. The memorandum urged the Governor to forward their demands to the President of India and the Union Government.
According to the GPCC, Rahul Gandhi was detained while attempting to express solidarity with students protesting against alleged failures in the country’s education and examination system. The party termed the detention an attack on democratic values, freedom of expression and the constitutional role of the Opposition.
The Congress delegation also expressed concern over the incidents of July 20, alleging that protesting students were subjected to excessive force and mistreatment. It called for an impartial inquiry into the incident and action against those responsible.
Among its key demands, the GPCC sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging failure to safeguard students’ interests, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding him accountable for the law-and-order response during the protests.
The memorandum also demanded the withdrawal of criminal cases against students who participated in peaceful demonstrations and called for a detailed discussion on the issue in both Houses of Parliament.
Additionally, the Congress urged the Prime Minister to issue an unconditional apology to students and initiate comprehensive reforms in the education and examination system to improve transparency, accountability and fairness.
The GPCC said it would continue to support students and work towards protecting democratic rights and constitutional values while pressing for reforms in the education sector.
