Union Minister for Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy has expressed his disapproval of the Congress party’s protest near the Prime Minister’s official residence on July 21. He described the demonstration as indicative of the party’s emerging pattern of “drama and disruption” rather than constructive parliamentary engagement. Reddy contended that during parliamentary sessions, it is the opposition’s duty to engage in meaningful debate and contribute to governance, but he accused Congress of opting for disruption both inside and outside Parliament.

Reddy asserted that the events displayed outside the Prime Minister’s Residence warranted disappointment and suggested that the Congress has veered away from its responsibilities. He highlighted that the Constitution of India does not endorse continuous interruption of parliamentary procedures, labelling such actions as detrimental to democratic principles.

Furthermore, he claimed that Congress’s tactics do not exemplify democratic expression. He stated that the ongoing protests are an attempt to undermine the democracy they purport to support, drawing attention to historical events from when Congress was in power, particularly during the Emergency period.

Calls for Responsible Opposition

The Union Minister further articulated that India deserves an opposition committed to responsible governance rather than one that perpetually seeks confrontation. Reddy referred to the outcomes of recent assembly elections, asserting that Congress has consistently failed to earn the public’s trust across multiple states including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam, and Puducherry.

According to him, this continued failure stems from the perception of Congress as a party primarily motivated by political opportunism rather than actual public service. By criticising their symbolism during protests, Reddy remarked that the electorate has already confined Congress’s political aspirations by rejecting them in elections.

Reddy invited Congress to engage in substantive parliamentary discussions, stating the parliamentary process is available for those who are prepared and confident in their arguments, contrasting this with what he perceives as mere political theatre.

Details of the Congress Protest

The protests carried out by Congress on the same day included prominent leaders such as President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and others. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. This demonstration took place following the adjournment of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in light of opposition demands for discussions pertaining to issues such as the NEET-UG paper leak.

During the protest, Mallikarjun Kharge raised concerns regarding police actions against protestors in the Rajya Sabha. Rahul Gandhi, posting on X, asserted that the protest was aimed at demanding accountability from the Prime Minister for incidents involving students. He claimed that the government is evading accountability and refuses to conduct a debate within Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi called upon individuals who support justice for students to join the Congress protest, stating that any attack on students represents an affront to all Indian families. He expressed that the government should take note and respond adequately to the demands of the students in order to demonstrate accountability.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda visited the RML Hospital to assess the situation of injured protestors previously. On the preceding day, Nadda had met with a delegation representing the Cockroach Janata Party, who presented several demands to the government. The response to the ongoing protests is being closely followed by various political stakeholders.

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