Five students who took part in a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Riya Ahir, Nutan Topu, Farah Naaz, Bharat Banaith and Muskan Sharma, joined Congress MP Rahul Gandhi at a press conference on Wednesday. The students accused the police of assault, threats and unlawful detention during the demonstration, while Rahul Gandhi described them as defenders of the Constitution and the idea of India.
What Rahul Gandhi said in support of the students
Opening the press conference, Rahul Gandhi said he had met young protesters who had travelled to Jantar Mantar from different states across the country. He said these students represented the voice of thousands of young people who had launched a completely peaceful movement to protect the Constitution and the education system. Gandhi stressed that the students had not resorted to any violence, yet they continued to face harassment. He said protecting a citizen when injustice is done to them is the duty of every Indian, and that this is the true spirit of the Constitution and of nationalism. He told the students they had done nothing wrong and owed no one an apology, since what they had defended was the idea of India and its Constitution. He added that these young people had done nothing wrong at all.
Riya Ahir: complaint filed, but no FIR yet
Riya Ahir identified herself as the same young woman who had stopped a police van in Mumbai to prevent 20 children from being taken into what she called illegal detention. She said various narratives were now being spread about her and that she was being harassed, which she called a crime. According to her, she filed a police complaint on July 27, but as of August 5 no FIR had been registered. Despite this, she said she was relieved that the very young people she had stood up for were now standing with her.
Nutan Topu: says she was hit by pellet gun fire from behind
Nutan Topu, who has come from Jharkhand, said she was fired at with a pellet gun from behind during the protest. She said she had personally seen a pellet gun aimed toward the protesters, and that the moment she turned around, it was fired, injuring her. Despite the injury, she said she would keep fighting against injustice whenever she gets the chance.
Farah Naaz: alleges she was called 'anti-national' in custody
Farah Naaz, from Uttar Pradesh, said police assaulted her during a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20. She alleged that after she was taken into custody, officers first asked her name and then said a separate list would be made of people like her because they were anti-nationals. Responding to this, Farah said that no matter what anyone thinks, she and others will keep raising their voice for the country and for their rights.
Bharat Banaith: says he carried injured students to ambulances
Bharat Banaith, who has come from Nagpur, claimed several students were seriously injured during the protest. He said he personally helped carry a number of injured students to ambulances, but was obstructed even along the way. According to him, many students suffered serious injuries to their heads, hands and legs. He alleged, "We demanded Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, and we were treated this brutally. If we had demanded Amit Shah's resignation, we might have been shot."
Muskan Sharma: questions the lathicharge against her
Muskan Sharma, also present at the press conference, said she had taken part in the protest peacefully, yet police used batons on her. She asked why she was beaten when she was walking peacefully. She pointed out that the rule is that a male officer cannot hit a woman, and asked how a male RAF officer had struck her and tried to push a baton at her from behind. She said she would be glad if the officer who gave that order came forward and apologised.
The press conference gave a public platform to the accounts of the five students, who had travelled from different states to describe similar experiences, that they protested peacefully but still faced assault, threats and what they called unlawful detention at the hands of the police.
