Congress staged a protest today outside the Prime Minister's residence in Delhi over the NEET paper leak issue, with Rahul Gandhi leading a large group of senior party leaders who stood alongside him. Leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party were conspicuously absent from the scene, keeping the party firmly at a distance from the demonstration.
Akhilesh Yadav Stands With Rahul, AAP Keeps Away
While AAP steered clear of Congress's sit-in, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav openly threw his weight behind Rahul Gandhi and turned up at the protest site. The SP chief's presence added an unusual political twist to the day, exposing a visible split within the opposition camp over how to approach the sit-in.
Kejriwal Questions the Venue, Takes a Jab at 'Cockroach Janta Party'
AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal questioned why Rahul Gandhi needed to hold a sit-in right outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence in the first place. The party went further, alleging that the entire move was actually part of a "Cockroach Janta Party" strategy aimed at blunting other protests already under way.
A Post Invokes Wangchuk's Fast and the Jantar Mantar Movement
A post from AAP claimed that Prime Minister Modi got Rahul Gandhi to sit outside his own residence specifically to dull the edge of the CJP's sit-in. The post said Wangchuk has been on a fast unto death for the last 23 days on behalf of crores of the country's youth, and that a youth movement continues at Jantar Mantar without let-up. Citing an alleged brutal beating of youths on July 20, it said Congress has spent the past month vilifying that movement, and claimed Rahul Gandhi is now urging young protesters to abandon Jantar Mantar and join his own sit-in instead.
