JKPCC president leads anti BJP demonstration in Jammu, demanding education minister’s resignation

STC NEWS DESK
JAMMU, JULY 22 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra led a strong protest demonstration outside the party headquarters here today. They were demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy and alleged commercialization of education.
The protest at Shaheedi Chowk, which witnessed a large turnout of Congress workers and senior leaders, including Working President Raman Bhalla, was also aimed at countering a simultaneous demonstration by BJP activists near the Congress office. The police had to deploy additional forces to prevent any clash between the two groups.
Addressing the gathering, Karra accused the BJP of “hooliganism” and “dictatorial tactics,” alleging that the ruling party’s protest outside the Congress office was a deliberate provocation. “Their attempt to attack the Congress office is a clear sign of BJP’s dictatorship and goondaism, both inside and outside the government,” he told reporters.
Karra also questioned the government’s refusal to hold a parliamentary debate on the NEET paper leak and the alleged irregularities in the education system. He extended full support to the student protests in the national capital and condemned the police action against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and party leader Priyanka Gandhi.
“I myself witnessed students being thrashed by police in civil dress at Jantar Mantar. They were left injured and hospitalised. How can any responsible leader remain silent on such atrocities?” Karra said, demanding that Pradhan take moral responsibility and resign.
Raman Bhalla termed the BJP’s protest as an “open display of hooliganism” and said it reflected the “undemocratic mindset” of the ruling dispensation. “Parliament is meant for debate, but under Modi rule, there is only diversion and dictatorship,” he alleged.
Congress workers raised slogans such as “Vote Chor, Chanda Chor, Paper Chor” and countered the BJP demonstration peacefully. Party Chief Spokesperson Ravinder Sharma questioned the administration’s decision to allow the BJP protest so close to the Congress headquarters, calling it a “provocative step” and a failure of the police machinery.
Among those present were former legislators Ved Mahajan, Th. Balbir Singh, Ch. Mumtaz Khan, Treasurer Rajnish Sharma, and several other senior leaders and workers. (Straight Talk Communications I Inputs from KNS)