Staff Reporter / New Delhi
In a dramatic turn of events, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi caught not only the administration off guard but also many of his own senior Party colleagues with a surprise political gambit on Tuesday.
Senior Congress leaders had assembled at 10, Kamraj Marg to greet party president Mallikarjun Kharge on his 85th birthday when the AICC chief abruptly asked them to proceed to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg—the official residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Before many could comprehend the unfolding developments, images of Rahul Gandhi being manhandled by Delhi Police during the march began circulating widely on social media, drawing national attention and quickly going viral across the world.
The symbolic show of defiance by the Leader of the Opposition came in protest against the alleged police excesses on students demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The previous day’s crackdown by Delhi Police on protesting students had triggered widespread outrage, leaving hundreds injured and fuelling fresh political confrontation between the Opposition and the Centre.
Before the protest was forcible ended by cops who detained Rahul and others, Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh arrived and asked them to relocate, telling Rahul the government was ready to take up education-related issues in Parliament. Rahul Gandhi maintained it was his prerogative to protest wherever he chose, which Jitendra later called “not in keeping with democratic principles”. Among those detained later was Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and several others.
Rahul Gandhi’s unexpected move has once again positioned him at the centre of the Opposition’s campaign, turning what began as a birthday gathering for Kharge into one of the most dramatic political moments in the national capital in recent months.