Politics – Ravi Shankar Prasad Criticises Rahul Gandhi Over Protest at PM Residence
Politics –Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday sharply criticised Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence, describing the demonstration as inappropriate and saying it failed to respect the dignity associated with the country’s highest executive office.
BJP Questions Rahul Gandhi’s Protest
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Prasad said Gandhi’s political background should have made him more aware of the importance of maintaining the decorum of the Prime Minister’s official residence. Referring to Gandhi’s family history, he noted that three generations of his family had served as Prime Minister, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi.
According to Prasad, someone with such a legacy should understand the significance of the office and avoid actions that, in his view, undermine its institutional respect. He described Gandhi’s decision to stage a sit-in outside the residence as unacceptable and criticised the manner in which the protest was carried out.
BJP Announces Nationwide Demonstrations
Prasad also announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party would organise protests across the country on Wednesday in response to the Congress demonstration outside the Prime Minister’s residence. He said BJP workers would gather outside Congress offices to register their opposition to what the party considers an unruly protest.
The announcement signals a further escalation in political exchanges between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress over recent events in the national capital.
Remarks on Parliamentary Functioning
During the press conference, Prasad also questioned Gandhi’s approach to political engagement, saying that democratic institutions function through discussion and debate rather than confrontation. He claimed that the government had expressed readiness to hold discussions on the NEET issue but alleged that the opposition later withdrew from that process.
He argued that decisions in a parliamentary democracy cannot be driven by the preferences of any single political leader and criticised what he described as an uncompromising approach by the Congress leader.
Police Action Defended
The senior BJP leader also defended the police response during the protest. He said law enforcement authorities acted in accordance with their responsibility to maintain security and preserve public order near the Prime Minister’s residence.
Prasad maintained that the measures taken by the police were necessary under the circumstances and were aimed at ensuring peace while protecting a high-security government location.
Government Highlights Examination Reforms
Shifting to the issue of competitive examinations, Prasad said the Centre has taken multiple steps to improve the integrity of recruitment and entrance tests, including NEET. He acknowledged that examination irregularities had surfaced in different states in the past but said corrective action had been taken wherever required.
According to him, examinations that were cancelled due to reported irregularities were conducted again with stronger safeguards. He added that the revised examinations were held without charging additional fees from candidates and said the declared results reflected a satisfactory outcome.
Focus on Students and Future Reforms
Prasad said the government considers the welfare of students a priority and is committed to protecting the interests of candidates appearing for NEET and other competitive examinations. He stated that individuals accused of involvement in examination-related irregularities have been arrested and are facing legal proceedings.
He further said investigations are continuing to strengthen the examination system and prevent future lapses. Reiterating the government’s position, Prasad said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that maintaining the credibility and fairness of NEET and other public examinations remains a key priority.