Karnal, July 23: Under the "Chhatron ki Goonj" (Voice of Students) campaign launched at the call of the All India Congress Committee, senior Congress leaders, office-bearers, and workers from Karnal—led by District Congress Committee (Urban) President Parag Gaba, District Congress Committee (Rural) President Rajesh Vaid, and former Lok Sabha candidate Divyanshu Budhiraja—held a poignant candlelight march. They expressed deep sympathy and solidarity with the victimized students in protest against the alleged brutal lathi-charge inflicted upon them.
A large number of Congress workers and youth participated in this candlelight march, including Parag Gaba, Rajesh Vaid, Divyanshu Budhiraja, Shamsher Singh Gogi, Bhupinder Lathar, Somil Sandhu, Hari Ram Saba, Pappu Lathar, Dilsher Dachar, Joginder Valmiki, Binder Poswal, Lalit Ahuja, Sandeep Mahajan (Deepak), Parveen Punia, Ladi Sandhu, Ashok Duggal, Surinder Nambardar, Yuvraj Singh Bhatti, Pankaj Gaba, Rajat Lathar, Narendra Kumar Agghi (Joga Ji), Kapil Thakur, Rajesh Chaudhary, Gajdeep Singh Mattu, Piyush, Pushkar Manchanda, Sapna Rana, Dr. Navjot Kashyap, Sharda Sindhu, Rajiv Gondar, Rajinder Kalyan, Ankit Chauhan, Anhad Pratap Singh, Sher Singh Dabri, Navneet Randhawa, Bajindra Khokhar, Munish Parvez Rana, Manish Munak, Anil Sharma, Jasbir Pannu, Nippi Maan, Jitendra Narwal, Vikas Kamboj, and Satpal Sarpanch.
As Congress workers took to the streets—holding lit candles and carrying the ache of the students' pain in their eyes—it was not merely a protest; it was a pledge to stand by shattered dreams, wounded hopes, and the call for justice. Lathis rained down on hands that hold the pen; democracy was put to shame. The very hands that should have held books and pens were instead left bearing the marks of lathi blows. Today, this issue demands an answer from the conscience of the entire nation.
Congress leaders remarked that at an age when the hands of the youth should have been holding books, notebooks, and pens, they were instead left with deep welts from lathi charges. Eyes that once held dreams of a golden future were filled with tears, pain, and fear. This was not merely an attack on students; it was a severe blow to the nation's future, its democracy, and the very soul of the Constitution.
The leaders expressed deep anguish that even female students were not spared; they were manhandled, their dignity was violated, and their clothes were torn. Such scenes would make any sensitive society hang its head in shame. Such treatment of students peacefully voicing their views is unacceptable in any democratic system.
Congress leaders stated that instead of listening to the voices of the youth, the government is attempting to intimidate and suppress them. Students who ask questions are met with lathis rather than answers. Yet, history bears witness that the voice of ideas and truth can never be silenced by the force of batons.
They demanded that the government order an impartial judicial inquiry into the entire incident, take strict action against the guilty officials, and ensure immediate justice and appropriate assistance for the injured students.
The Congress leaders emphasized that this candlelight march was not merely a ritual of lighting candles, but a pledge to safeguard the dignity, dreams, and future of those innocent students. The Congress party will always stand firmly with every student and young person in the fight for their rights. The struggle to amplify their voices will continue unabated until justice is served.