Staff Correspondent
Sri Vijaya Puram, July 21: Leaders of the Andaman & Nicobar Territorial Congress Committee (ANTCC) this evening staged a flash protest in solidarity with the nationwide agitation led by Leader of the Opposition Mr. Rahul Gandhi over alleged examination paper leaks and issues affecting students across the country. The flash protest was held near Lok Niwas Police Barricade. During the demonstration, Congress leaders demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, accused the Central Government of failing to protect the integrity of the education system, and reiterated the demand for the establishment of a Central University in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Addressing party workers and supporters, ANTCC President Mr. Rangalal Halder said the protest was being organised to express solidarity with Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who, according to him, has launched a nationwide campaign demanding justice for students. He alleged that the Government had ignored repeated appeals for accountability in the wake of examination paper leak controversies.
Mr. Halder said that if the genuine demands of students continue to be ignored, Mr. Rahul Gandhi would continue his protest, and Congress workers across the country would stand firmly behind him. He thanked party workers for assembling at short notice and said future programmes would be organised in accordance with directions from the party’s central leadership.
Mr. Halder also appealed to the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and the Lieutenant Governor to address the concerns of students in the Islands. Referring to the ongoing debate over higher education, he said students in the Islands have consistently demanded the establishment of a Central University and not a deemed-to-be university. He urged the Administration to reconsider its approach and fulfil what he described as the genuine aspirations of Island students.
Claiming that students had earlier held a 51-day peaceful agitation over the university issue, Mr. Halder alleged that their concerns had not been adequately addressed. He warned that the Congress Party would continue supporting student movements until their demands were met and said the party was prepared to intensify its agitation if required.
Chairman of the ANTCC Campaign Committee Mr. T.S.G. Bhasker also addressed the gathering and alleged that the country’s education system had been compromised due to repeated examination paper leaks. Referring to reports of NEET and other examination controversies, he alleged that deserving students were being denied fair opportunities despite years of hard work and preparation.
Mr. Bhasker claimed that the prolonged delay in addressing these issues had placed immense psychological pressure on students and their families. He urged the Government of India to ensure transparency in the conduct of examinations and to restore public confidence in the education system by fixing accountability wherever lapses had occurred.
District Congress Committee President John Robert Babu said the protest had been organised to demand the resignation of the Union Education Minister and to express concern over what he described as the deteriorating condition of the country’s education sector.
Mr. Babu alleged that many examination paper leak incidents had occurred during the present Government’s tenure and questioned why accountability had not yet been fixed. Drawing a comparison with previous governments, he claimed that ministers had resigned in the past whenever serious controversies arose, but alleged that similar accountability was now missing.
He also criticised the handling of student protests in different parts of the country, alleging that peaceful demonstrators were being detained and subjected to excessive police action. Referring to recent student movements in the Islands, Mr. Babu alleged that students had been discouraged from raising their concerns and claimed that educational institutions in the Islands were facing several unresolved issues, including those affecting Polytechnic students.
Mr. Babu further expressed concern over what he described as the increasing privatisation of government services in the Islands, including transport and other sectors. He alleged that such developments could adversely affect employment opportunities for local youth and urged the Administration to safeguard public institutions and government services.
Addressing the gathering, Andaman & Nicobar Mahila Congress President Mrs. Zubaida Begum condemned what she described as the Government’s failure to protect students’ interests. She alleged that peaceful student protesters in different parts of the country had been subjected to force instead of being heard and questioned why students demanding their rights were facing such treatment.
Mrs. Zubaida Begum said the Congress Party would continue to raise its voice against what it termed injustice towards students and assured that all frontal organisations of the party, including the Youth Congress, Mahila Congress and District Congress Committees, would participate in future agitations. She appealed to the public to support the movement and said the party would continue its campaign until students’ concerns were addressed.
The Congress leaders concluded the programme by reaffirming their support for Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide protest and stated that the party would continue organising demonstrations in the Islands in accordance with directions from the central leadership while pressing for educational reforms, accountability in examination-related matters and the establishment of a Central University in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
