New Delhi [India], July 28 : Congress MP Pawan Khera expressed deep concern over the "detention" of students, demanding immediate accountability for the police measures deployed against youth who protested against the Centre, seeking the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.
"Rahul Gandhi has been raising his voice against violence against students, which is still ongoing, and detentions of students are continuing. This has to stop. Accountability must be fixed. It is shocking that after pellet guns, we are now seeing AK-47s being used against our youth," he said.
Earlier on Monday, Khera pointed to the firing in Siwan, Bihar, where an AK-47 was reportedly used against students. Khera said the Opposition has been demanding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally respond in the Rajya Sabha.
Khera said, "We once again tried to raise our voice in the Rajya Sabha against the brutal attacks being carried out on the youth across the country, which are continuing even today. Even today, AK-47s were used in Bihar."
Outlining the Opposition's demand, Khera said the Union Home Minister should come to Parliament and respond to the concerns raised by students, alleging that the government was not listening to their voices.
"Our demand is very clear: The Home Minister must come to the House and make a statement. The voice of the students, which is being raised through the Opposition, must be heard. But the government is not listening. That is why Parliament could not function again," he said.
The Bihar government on Monday announced that it will refrain from taking any punitive or retaliatory action against individuals who participated in protests over alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities prior to 6:00 PM on Sunday.
The state Home Department assured that it will immediately initiate the legal process to withdraw all First Information Reports (FIRs), criminal complaints, and show-cause notices registered before the stipulated cutoff time.
As per the press release, all FIRs, criminal complaints, and show-cause notices against agitators registered before 6:00 PM on July 26 will be legally withdrawn. Persons arrested or detained in connection with cases filed prior to the deadline will be released immediately. The government guaranteed that no future direct or indirect action will be taken regarding incidents before the cutoff time.
The government's announcement follows days of intense statewide agitation over alleged NEET-UG paper leaks and demands for systemic higher education reforms.