Panaji: A five-member delegation of the Goa Pradesh Congress Committee led by GPCC President Shri Girish Chodankar along with Working Presidents MK Shaikh,Adv. Carlos Alvares Ferreira, Sunil Kawthankar and Youth Congress President Adv. Archit Naik today submitted a memorandum to His Excellency the Governor of Goa at Raj Bhavan, strongly condemning the detention of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi, and demanding justice for students, accountability from the Union Government, and urgent reforms in the country’s education system.
The memorandum expressed grave concern over the detention of Shri Rahul Gandhi while he was peacefully attempting to stand in solidarity with students protesting against the failures of the Union Government in safeguarding their rights and ensuring a fair and transparent education system.
The delegation stated that the detention of the Leader of Opposition for supporting aggrieved students is a direct assault on democratic values, freedom of expression, and the constitutional role of the Opposition. It further observed that the incidents of 20th July 2026, in which protesting students were allegedly attacked, humiliated, and subjected to excessive force, have deeply shocked the conscience of the nation.
The GPCC urged the Governor to convey the following demands to the Hon’ble President of India and the Union Government:
- Immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan for failing to safeguard the interests of students and allowing the continued deterioration of the country’s education and examination systems.
- Resignation of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah, holding him accountable for the law-and-order machinery responsible for the detention of democratic leaders and the suppression of peaceful student protests.
- Immediate action against all those responsible for attacking and using force against students on 20th July 2026 through an impartial inquiry.
- Withdrawal of all criminal cases and legal proceedings against students who were peacefully exercising their democratic right to protest.
- A full discussion and debate on the issue in both Houses of Parliament to address the crisis affecting students and the education sector.
The memorandum also reiterated the demand that the Prime Minister issue an unconditional public apology to students and initiate comprehensive reforms in the education and examination systems to ensure transparency, accountability, fairness, and equal opportunities for every student.
The delegation requested the Hon’ble Governor to kindly intervene and forward the memorandum to the Hon’ble President of India and the Government of India, urging immediate action on all the demands in the interest of justice, democracy, and the future of India’s students. The GPCC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding constitutional values, protecting democratic rights, and standing firmly with students in their pursuit of justice, dignity, and a fair, transparent, and accountable education system.
