Will he ever see again? Rahul Gandhi slams Centre over pellet gun use on student
Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of using pellet guns against students during the CJP protest, highlighting the injuries of a 19-year-old protester and demanding action against those responsible, an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that students protesting peacefully over the alleged NEET paper leak were subjected to excessive force by security personnel, claiming that some sustained serious injuries, including damage to their eyesight due to the use of pellet guns.
Addressing the media after meeting injured protesters, Gandhi referred to Sahil, one of the students injured during the protest and said he had been struck by a pellet that severely damaged one of his eyes.
This comes a day after an exclusive report by India Today Digital had said several protesters sustained pellet gun injuries during the July 20 CJP march, citing testimonies from the injured and medical records. The report described it as a rare instance of pellet guns being used during a protest in the national capital, despite denials by Delhi Police and official fact-checkers.
Bullet pellets cause severe physical damage by tearing tissue, fracturing bones, and puncturing vital organs. They introduce dangerous bacteria deep into the wound, creating a high risk of serious infections.
Furthermore, if the pellets are lead-based and left inside the body, they can slowly dissolve, causing chronic heavy metal poisoning.
Gandhi claimed Sahil was holding the national flag and participating in a peaceful demonstration when the incident occurred, adding that doctors were uncertain whether his vision could be restored.
GANDHI OUTLINES THREE KEY DEMANDS
Gandhi outlined three key demands on behalf of the protesters.
First, he called for the removal of those responsible for the alleged examination paper leak. Second, he demanded action against those responsible for the alleged firing of pellet guns and the lathi-charge on students. Lastly, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the head of the government, should apologise to the thousands of young people affected by the crackdown.
He further said the government had indicated it was willing to consider withdrawing cases filed against protesters and taking action over the alleged use of force.
However, Gandhi said the protesters' principal demand—the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—remained unresolved and would be discussed by the government on Friday.
Calling Pradhan "the symbol of a criminalised education system", Gandhi alleged that the Union minister was responsible for the deterioration of the country's education system and should step down.
He asserted that the protests would continue until the students' demands were met.
CJP SAYS GOVT AGREES TO TWO KEY DEMANDS
Following a nearly two-hour meeting at the Constitution Club on Thursday, CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the Centre had agreed in principle to two of the outfit's key demands while seeking more time to decide on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ranka said the government had accepted the demands for Rs 1 crore compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and for the withdrawal of FIRs and other legal cases registered against protesting students.
"The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon," Ranka said.
He added that the Centre had conveyed its in-principle approval to the compensation package and the withdrawal of criminal cases against students. According to Ranka, a third round of talks between CJP leaders and the government, represented by Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, is scheduled to be held on Saturday.
Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that students protesting peacefully over the alleged NEET paper leak were subjected to excessive force by security personnel, claiming that some sustained serious injuries, including damage to their eyesight due to the use of pellet guns.
Addressing the media after meeting injured protesters, Gandhi referred to Sahil, one of the students injured during the protest and said he had been struck by a pellet that severely damaged one of his eyes.
This comes a day after an exclusive report by India Today Digital had said several protesters sustained pellet gun injuries during the July 20 CJP march, citing testimonies from the injured and medical records. The report described it as a rare instance of pellet guns being used during a protest in the national capital, despite denials by Delhi Police and official fact-checkers.
Bullet pellets cause severe physical damage by tearing tissue, fracturing bones, and puncturing vital organs. They introduce dangerous bacteria deep into the wound, creating a high risk of serious infections.
Furthermore, if the pellets are lead-based and left inside the body, they can slowly dissolve, causing chronic heavy metal poisoning.
Gandhi claimed Sahil was holding the national flag and participating in a peaceful demonstration when the incident occurred, adding that doctors were uncertain whether his vision could be restored.
GANDHI OUTLINES THREE KEY DEMANDS
Gandhi outlined three key demands on behalf of the protesters.
First, he called for the removal of those responsible for the alleged examination paper leak. Second, he demanded action against those responsible for the alleged firing of pellet guns and the lathi-charge on students. Lastly, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the head of the government, should apologise to the thousands of young people affected by the crackdown.
He further said the government had indicated it was willing to consider withdrawing cases filed against protesters and taking action over the alleged use of force.
However, Gandhi said the protesters' principal demand—the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—remained unresolved and would be discussed by the government on Friday.
Calling Pradhan "the symbol of a criminalised education system", Gandhi alleged that the Union minister was responsible for the deterioration of the country's education system and should step down.
He asserted that the protests would continue until the students' demands were met.
CJP SAYS GOVT AGREES TO TWO KEY DEMANDS
Following a nearly two-hour meeting at the Constitution Club on Thursday, CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the Centre had agreed in principle to two of the outfit's key demands while seeking more time to decide on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ranka said the government had accepted the demands for Rs 1 crore compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and for the withdrawal of FIRs and other legal cases registered against protesting students.
"The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon," Ranka said.
He added that the Centre had conveyed its in-principle approval to the compensation package and the withdrawal of criminal cases against students. According to Ranka, a third round of talks between CJP leaders and the government, represented by Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, is scheduled to be held on Saturday.
Leader of Opposition and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that students protesting peacefully over the alleged NEET paper leak were subjected to excessive force by security personnel, claiming that some sustained serious injuries, including damage to their eyesight due to the use of pellet guns.
Addressing the media after meeting injured protesters, Gandhi referred to Sahil, one of the students injured during the protest and said he had been struck by a pellet that severely damaged one of his eyes.
This comes a day after an exclusive report by India Today Digital had said several protesters sustained pellet gun injuries during the July 20 CJP march, citing testimonies from the injured and medical records. The report described it as a rare instance of pellet guns being used during a protest in the national capital, despite denials by Delhi Police and official fact-checkers.
Bullet pellets cause severe physical damage by tearing tissue, fracturing bones, and puncturing vital organs. They introduce dangerous bacteria deep into the wound, creating a high risk of serious infections.
Furthermore, if the pellets are lead-based and left inside the body, they can slowly dissolve, causing chronic heavy metal poisoning.
Gandhi claimed Sahil was holding the national flag and participating in a peaceful demonstration when the incident occurred, adding that doctors were uncertain whether his vision could be restored.
GANDHI OUTLINES THREE KEY DEMANDS
Gandhi outlined three key demands on behalf of the protesters.
First, he called for the removal of those responsible for the alleged examination paper leak. Second, he demanded action against those responsible for the alleged firing of pellet guns and the lathi-charge on students. Lastly, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the head of the government, should apologise to the thousands of young people affected by the crackdown.
He further said the government had indicated it was willing to consider withdrawing cases filed against protesters and taking action over the alleged use of force.
However, Gandhi said the protesters' principal demand—the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan—remained unresolved and would be discussed by the government on Friday.
Calling Pradhan "the symbol of a criminalised education system", Gandhi alleged that the Union minister was responsible for the deterioration of the country's education system and should step down.
He asserted that the protests would continue until the students' demands were met.
CJP SAYS GOVT AGREES TO TWO KEY DEMANDS
Following a nearly two-hour meeting at the Constitution Club on Thursday, CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the Centre had agreed in principle to two of the outfit's key demands while seeking more time to decide on the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Ranka said the government had accepted the demands for Rs 1 crore compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who died by suicide and for the withdrawal of FIRs and other legal cases registered against protesting students.
"The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon," Ranka said.
He added that the Centre had conveyed its in-principle approval to the compensation package and the withdrawal of criminal cases against students. According to Ranka, a third round of talks between CJP leaders and the government, represented by Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh, is scheduled to be held on Saturday.
