NEW DELHI, Aug 12: Opposition MPs staged a protest in the Parliament House Complex on Wednesday, raising two issues that have remained at the centre of the political standoff alleged irregularities involving donations to the Ram temple in Ayodhya and police action against students during a protest last month.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were among the leaders who participated in the demonstration outside Makar Dwar.
The protesting MPs demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah appear in Parliament and address allegations of excessive force used against students during their July 20 march over the NEET paper leak issue.
Carrying placards and raising slogans, the lawmakers called for accountability from the government. MPs from the Congress, Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress joined the demonstration, standing behind a banner questioning the alleged misuse of temple donations.
The Opposition has been seeking a statement from the home minister on the police response to the student demonstration. Leaders have alleged that excessive force was used against young protesters and have sought clarification on the circumstances surrounding the action.
Priyanka Gandhi earlier questioned the government’s accountability over the treatment of students and demanded answers from Shah regarding the allegations of police excesses.
The INDIA bloc has continued to press the government on both issues, with opposition parties maintaining that the matters require discussion in Parliament.
The dispute has contributed to a prolonged stalemate in the House. The government’s proposal for a debate followed by a response from Shah has so far failed to satisfy the Congress, which wants the home minister to specifically address allegations concerning the use of force against students.
The Congress has also maintained that a discussion on the alleged irregularities involving donations to the Ram temple cannot be set aside.
With the Opposition continuing its protests, the two issues are likely to remain a major source of confrontation between the government and opposition parties during the ongoing parliamentary proceedings.
