New Delhi [India], July 21 (ANI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday sharply criticised the Centre over the police action on student protesters during CJP’s march to parliament in Delhi, describing the previous day as a “Black Day” for Indian democracy and demanding that July 20 be observed every year as “Coward’s Day.”
Addressing a press conference, Raut said the youth of the country had shown their anger in a manner he considered an expression of democracy itself, alleging that police resorted to “inhumane” acts against the protestors.
“Yesterday, the youth power of the country expressed their anger and outburst in a way that we consider as democracy. The kind of inhuman lathi charge, tear gas, dragging, breaking legs, and splitting heads that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah’s government and their police did on those young boys and girls,” Raut said.
Reiterating his call for a symbolic marking of the day, Raut said, “That’s why I said yesterday was a very dark day in Indian democracy — a ‘Black Day’. From now on, July 20th should be observed as ‘Coward’s Day’.”
Raut said he had remained engaged with the protest movement through the night and visited the site personally.
“I had discussions with some prominent protest leaders throughout the night. We will be going there,” he said.
His remarks come a day after a march led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) activists towards Parliament, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, left more than 118 police personnel injured and more than 60 protesters reported hurt, according to Delhi Police.
CJP spokespersons had earlier met Union Health Minister JP Nadda, pressing three demands: Pradhan’s resignation, compensation of Rs 1 crore for the families of NEET aspirants, more than 20 of whom the CJP says have died, and the immediate release of Wangchuk, who remains admitted at Safdarjung Hospital after being taken from the protest site. CJP activist Abhijeet Dipke has vowed to continue the protest, accusing police of violence agaisnt the protestors.
The events from the protest have led to a wave of opposition anger over the government’s handling of the protest. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has also said that “students were beaten for asking legitimate questions about their own future” and demanded a detailed discussion in Parliament’s Monsoon Session on the alleged brutality against students and the NEET examination paper leak crisis in a post on X. (ANI)
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