Police Clash With Thousands of Students Marching to Parliament in New Delhi
Security personnel in New Delhi clashed with and lathi-charged thousands of protesters on Monday as they attempted to march towards Parliament. The demonstrators, who included students and specially-abled youth, were protesting against alleged examination irregularities and demanding accountability.
The massive protest march was organized to demand systemic accountability from the government. The demonstrators also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. However, security personnel blocked the route and stopped the march, leading to clashes and a subsequent lathi charge.
Amid the confrontation, several emotional scenes unfolded on the streets of New Delhi as protesters pleaded with the police to allow them to continue their march towards Parliament. One tearful protester appealed directly to the officers as they resorted to the lathi charge against the demonstrators.
"If your own children were here, would you still do this? Aren't we your children too?" the protester asked the police. She was seen crying and appealing to the security forces blocking the march. "Please let us go. Aren't you pity for us?" she said.
The protest saw participation from a diverse group of young people. Among those participating were two specially-abled youngsters who communicated through sign language, drawing the attention of fellow protesters and volunteers.
The police action resulted in injuries to demonstrators and damage to personal property. Among those affected was 16-year-old Kanishka, who said she had skipped school to join the demonstration on Monday. Kanishka alleged that she was injured during the clashes with security personnel and noted that her mobile phone was damaged during the incident.
The protest highlights the intense anger among students and youth over the alleged examination irregularities, leading to the massive demonstration and demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
