Karnal, July 22: Led by Parag Gaba (District President, Urban), Rajesh Vaidya (District President, Rural), and former Lok Sabha candidate Bhai Divyanshu Budhiraja, senior Congress leaders and workers submitted a memorandum addressed to the President of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Karnal. They expressed deep outrage against the injustice faced by lakhs of students nationwide, police repression, and the continuously deteriorating examination system.
A large number of Congress office-bearers and workers were present on this occasion, including senior leaders Virendra Rathore, Suresh Gupta, Bhupinder Lathar, Lalit Butana, Krishna Kutel, Nirmal Satoundi, Hari Ram Saba, Satpal Sarpanch, Dilsher Dachar, Joginder Valmiki, Tarun Chauhan, Lalit Ahuja, Sandeep Mahajan (Deepak), Surendra Nambardar, Parveen Punia, Ladi Sandhu, Ashok Duggal, Yuvraj Singh Bhatti, Suresh Chaudhary, Rakesh Kumar, Sher Singh Dabri, Prithvi Raj Bhatt, Sapna Rana, Pappu Lathar, Pankaj Gaba, Nahar Sandhu, Rajat Lathar, Nippi Maan, Rajesh Chaudhary, Narendra Kumar Agghi (Joga Ji), Amit (Shamgarh), Navneet Randhawa, Pankaj Pal, and Kapil Thakur.
In a media statement, Congress leaders asserted that the nation's youth are demanding not merely employment, but the protection of their dreams, dignity, and future. When students—who prepare for competitive exams through years of hard work, their parents' tireless sacrifices, and countless hopes—take to the streets democratically to seek justice, only to be met with lathis, detention, and humiliation, it is not merely an attack on the students; it is a severe blow to the country's future and the very soul of democracy.
They added that Rahul Gandhi has stood firmly with the students throughout this entire struggle. The "Chhatron Ki Goonj" (Echo of Students) campaign gives voice to the anguish of millions of young people who have long endured paper leaks, corruption, examination irregularities, and government apathy.
Congress leaders stated that the march to Parliament was a peaceful appeal by youth who believe in democracy; yet, instead of dialogue, they were met with lathi-charges, detention, and humiliation. The mistreatment of female students and the use of force against peaceful protesters constitute a direct assault on democratic values.
They noted that when Rahul Gandhi and Congress MPs set out to convey the students' concerns to the government, they too were detained. This clearly demonstrates that the government is evading the questions raised by the youth. In a democracy, the government's responsibility is to listen to voices, not suppress them.
The Congress leaders stated that the memorandum submitted to the President includes several critical demands: the resignation of the Union Education Minister; an impartial inquiry into the lathi-charge on students; a special parliamentary discussion on the examination system; an independent audit of the entire examination process; strict action against the paper-leak mafia; the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA) in favor of a transparent examination system; and the implementation of a mandatory annual calendar for all competitive examinations and government recruitments.
In conclusion, Parag Gaba, Rajesh Vaid, Divyanshu Buddhiraja, and all the Congress leaders present emphasized that the nation's youth are not seeking favors from the government, but rather demanding their constitutional rights and fair opportunities. Hands that should have held books and pens now bear the marks of police batons. This is not merely an atrocity against students but a stain on India's democratic values—one that history will never forgive. The Congress party pledges to stand firmly with every student, parent, and young person—from the streets to Parliament—in this fight for dignity, rights, and the future.