What happened: Monsoon Session stalled over paper leaks; Rahul Gandhi leads a restricted march

Opposition parties continued to stall the Monsoon Session over paper-leak protests. Opposition leaders refused a government offer of a debate unless Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned first. Rahul Gandhi, leading MPs from the INDIA bloc, held a symbolic march to Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi to pay homage to students who allegedly died due to paper leaks and to reiterate support for protesting students and their demands.

Rahul Gandhi told media that the government was “assassinating democracy.” Gandhi described the government’s actions against students as brutality and called for an apology and for Dharmendra Pradhan’s removal.

The march faced policing restrictions. Delhi Police blocked access points near Sunehri Bagh Road. After Gandhi’s earlier dharna outside the Prime Minister’s residence, CRPF and Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed near the Prime Minister’s residence, including another bus placed to obstruct the convoy of MPs. Opposition leaders also had to change the venue of an evening vigil because gathering at India Gate was not allowed.

Background and earlier position: INDIA bloc priority is resignation, not a debate

At the INDIA bloc’s morning meeting, some voices suggested the Opposition should join a debate to put its case forward. The morning meeting rejected this suggestion and set making Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation the priority, aligned with public sentiment. Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav argued that no concessions should be made on the resignation demand.

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