Hyderabad, July 24: Police in Hyderabad foiled an alleged attempt by Youth Congress activists to disrupt a protest by the youth wing of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) at Indira Park over the NEET paper leak issue. The Youth Congress has accused the BRS of showing fake sympathy for the students and youths protesting in Delhi and asked why they were silent on the issue till now.

Police detained Youth Congress workers as they gathered at MLA Quarters in Adarsh Nagar to march towards Indira Park.

BRSV, the student wing of BRS, is holding a massive protest at Indira Park in solidarity against the “brutal crackdown” on students and youth in Delhi who are protesting at Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak and seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao will be participating in the protest against the Delhi Police’s crackdown on the students.

However, the Youth Congress workers tried to take out a rally to Indira Park as it alleged that BRS leaders were “shedding crocodile tears” over the “police brutalities” on students in Delhi.

The protestors were raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of the BRS.

The Youth Congress workers were led by former MP and Congress leader Anjan Kumar Yadav, who alleged that BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao has no right to stage such a protest.

He said that BRS, during its 10-year rule, had banned protests at Dharna Chowk, Indira Park but it was now using the same venue for a protest.

Yadav also alleged that BRS was showing fake sympathy for the students and youth protesting in Delhi. He wanted to know why K.T. Rama Rao, who had remained silent over the protests by students for the past 28 days, suddenly started expressing sympathy for them.

The former MP alleged that BRS and BJP were the two sides of the same coin. He said students suffered during BRS rule due to irregularities in intermediate examinations.

Police denied permission to Youth Congress for the rally and stopped the protestors from crossing the gates of MLA Quarters.

As the protestors tried to force their way, police detained them and shifted them to a police station.

Anjan Kumar Yadav and other Congress leaders were among those detained.

New Delhi, July 24: A group of advocates from across the country has written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, urging the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the July 21 sit-in protest led by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition leaders near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.

The representation, signed by advocates from multiple High Courts and coordinated by advocate Sanket Gupta, urged the apex court to order a fact-finding inquiry into the protest and lay down binding guidelines governing demonstrations in the vicinity of high-security installations.

The advocates contended that the protest, held outside the Prime Minister’s residence, raised issues extending beyond ordinary public assembly and touched upon concerns of national security and constitutional governance.

According to the representation, Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, other MPs, and the Chief Ministers of Kerala and Karnataka held a sit-in protest in the immediate vicinity of the Prime Minister’s residence without prior information or permission.

The representation said the area was “among the most security-sensitive locations in the National Capital” and that any unregulated gathering there carried security implications beyond those ordinarily associated with public protests.

It alleged that senior police officers repeatedly requested the protesters to disperse, informing them that the site was a high-security zone, but the assembly continued despite those appeals.

The advocates further claimed that Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh personally met Rahul Gandhi and urged him to end the protest after assuring that the government was willing to discuss the issue in Parliament, but the demonstration continued for several hours.

Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s social media post calling upon citizens to join the dharna, the representation alleged that inviting members of the public to gather near the Prime Minister’s residence carried “serious and foreseeable security implications” because of the unpredictable size and composition of any responding crowd.

According to the advocates, the Delhi Police eventually removed Rahul Gandhi and other MPs from the site after nearly three hours. “It is a matter of grave concern that a Constitutional functionary such as the Leader of Opposition himself placed the police in a position where such physical removal became necessary,” the representation stated, adding that any untoward incident during the standoff could have had “severe” consequences given the sensitivity of the location.

The advocates stressed that while the right to protest is constitutionally protected, it remains subject to reasonable restrictions in the interests of public order and national security.

“It is submitted that Article 19(1)(b) of the Constitution guarantees the right to assemble peaceably and without arms, but this right is expressly subject to reasonable restrictions under Article 19(3) in the interests of public order and the sovereignty and integrity of India,” the representation said.

The representation also argued that permitting such protests at high-security installations without scrutiny could set an undesirable precedent. “It is submitted that if this becomes a regular practice, it would pose a serious and continuing threat to the internal security architecture of the country,” it said.

“The Constitution makes no distinction between the ordinary citizen and the highest office-holder — all are equally bound by law, and the right to protest guaranteed by the Constitution is, and must remain, subject to reasonable limitations, including the requirement of prior permission in sensitive areas,” the representation added.

Seeking judicial intervention, the advocates urged the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognisance of the incident, direct an appropriate fact-finding inquiry, and frame uniform, prospective guidelines regulating protests in the immediate vicinity of high-security installations.

They said such guidelines should apply equally to all political parties and formations and balance the constitutional right to protest with legitimate security imperatives.

New Delhi, July 24: After the University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has also issued an advisory asking students and other stakeholders to refrain from visiting Jantar Mantar, where the Cockroach Janta Party is holding a protest over the NEET paper leak and other issues.

In an advisory issued on Friday, the university urged members of its academic community to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety.

“All stakeholders of JNU’s epistemic community are advised to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety. In accordance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India’s directions on public demonstrations, you are requested to refrain from participating in or visiting gatherings at or around Jantar Mantar, New Delhi,” the advisory stated.

The university also cautioned students about their conduct on social media, warning that violations could attract legal and disciplinary action.

“Please exercise responsibility on social media. Violations may invite legal consequences under applicable laws as well as disciplinary action under the University’s code of conduct,” the statement said.

It further urged students and staff to uphold the principles of responsible citizenship, saying, “You are also encouraged to uphold the values of academic responsibility and responsible citizenship.”

The advisory came a day after Delhi University issued a similar appeal to its students and faculty members, urging them to stay away from demonstrations at Jantar Mantar due to potential safety and legal consequences.

In its statement on Thursday, DU said that the safety and well-being of students remained its foremost priority and warned against participation in unlawful assemblies or demonstrations.

“Dear students and faculty, your safety matters to us,” the advisory said, adding that gatherings at Jantar Mantar are subject to regulations and restrictions laid down under directions of the Supreme Court of India.

The advisories from the two central universities came amid continued protests at Jantar Mantar over the demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan despite activist Sonam Wangchuk ending his 26-day fast.