Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday accused the government of suppressing the Opposition's voice in Parliament, alleging that his party was not allowed to raise the issue of the police action against the protesters a day earlier and questioning the government's handling of the demonstrations.
Addressing reporters outside Parliament, Kharge said the Congress wanted to discuss the "assault on students" who had gathered to protest during the Cockroach Janata Party-led 'Sansad Chalo' march, claiming that many of them were subjected to lathi-charge, tear gas and physical assault, leaving several injured and hospitalised.
"Today, we wanted to raise the issue of the students who were assaulted. They were lathi-charged, tear gas was used against them, they were beaten up, and many of them are now in hospitals. We wanted to raise our voice in Parliament against this injustice, these atrocities, and the pressure being created on them.
We had sought time to speak, and when we stood up, after uttering just one word, the microphone was switched off. This is democracy? If, in a democracy, you do not want a debate and do not want to listen to the Opposition, then where should we go?" Kharge said.
He further stated that students from across the country had gathered in the national capital to voice their concerns and that Parliament should have discussed the matter. Referring to the meeting between Union Minister J.P. Nadda and representatives of the CJP, Kharge said, "Students from every corner of the country have come here to raise their concerns.
We even wanted to know what was discussed in the meeting between Nadda ji and them (CJP representatives), and what was then discussed by Nadda ji internally. This is something that the country should know." "That is why we wanted this issue to be discussed and a statement from the Home Minister... However, we were shut down.
They are trying to end democracy. This is weird as I haven't seen such a thing happen in 60 years," he added. The Congress President also questioned the use of force against protesters and alleged that the government was creating conditions that could lead to unrest.
"We wanted to discuss why officials resorted to lathi-charge (on the protestors)... I am warning that the government is provoking anarchy in the country so that it can then resort to lathi charge," he said. Kharge also alleged that Opposition MPs were prevented from functioning freely inside Parliament during Monday's proceedings.
"Yesterday too, whatever we wanted to talk about, when we raised it, they didn't even give us a chance. Instead, we were kept inside like in a jail, and we weren't allowed to come out. What is this? If MPs cannot even come outside Parliament, then if they don't have security, who does?
So the country today is moving towards anarchy, and PM Modi and the Home Minister do not want to control this, and they don't even want to keep their point inside the House. That is why we condemn such an attitude," he said. Reiterating the Congress party's stand, Kharge said the Opposition would continue to raise issues concerning students and other matters of public importance.
"If the government and party are with the youth, is it to tear the clothes of girls? Is it to beat children with lathis? Is it to suppress the youth; to make them cry or to keep them safe? They do not know anything other than passing taunts... We will continue to raise the issues of our youth and even the Ram Mandir issue," he added.