Mumbai, Jul 26 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday claimed that people have defeated the Opposition’s alleged attempt to use students’ protests to create unrest in the country, hours after Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray led a march to celebrate Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.
Speaking to reporters after an event at the NESCO Centre in the Goregaon area of Mumbai, Shinde targeted Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Uddhav has said the protests by youths have given “oxygen” to democracy “almost dying” under the Modi government and described the agitators as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, asserting the process to bring a “change” has begun.
Calling the NEET paper leak, which triggered the CJP-led protest, an extremely unfortunate incident for the country, Shinde said Prime Minister Narendra Modi acted without delay and placed the future of students above everything else.
The Centre decided to introduce a stringent law under which those found guilty would face up to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, fines of up to Rs 10 crore, and trial in fast-track courts, with the legislation offering no immunity to anyone, he said.
Action had been taken against 47 officials connected with the National Testing Agency. The accused have been arrested, and a CBI investigation is underway, he said.
“No one will be spared,” Shinde said, adding that PM Modi himself had given this clear assurance. He congratulated the PM for ensuring justice for students.
Shinde also said that Pradhan had accepted moral responsibility and resigned, calling it a responsible democratic step.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi, Shinde questioned the purpose of so many people marching towards the PM’s residence on Tuesday while the CJP-led protest was already underway at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
“After the assassination of former prime minister Indira Gandhi, the SPG Act was enacted. Protests are prohibited in the vicinity of the PM’s residence. Despite knowing this, the Leader of the Opposition (Gandhi) deliberately gathered a crowd there. This was not a protest but an attempt to create instability in the country,” he alleged.
He further claimed that the Opposition wanted to create a situation of unrest in India similar to what had happened in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and other countries, referring to Gen Z movements. “But the people of this country completely foiled that attempt,” he said.
Without naming Uddhav or Raj, Shinde alleged that some leaders from Maharashtra had made provocative remarks from students’ platforms. They were trying to mix politics with the students’ movement and incite unrest in the state, he said.
“But the people of Maharashtra have already rejected them. Even the students rejected their politics. The moment the protest ended, their entire political agenda collapsed,” he said.
Continuing his attack on the Opposition, Shinde said the students’ protests have ended as their demands have been accepted, but those who tried to build their political fortunes on these agitations have been left disappointed.
“The Opposition tried to exploit the emotions of students for political gain, but the Modi government delivered justice through action. Therefore, the victory belongs to the students, while those who sought political mileage have been defeated,” Shinde claimed. PTI PR NR
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