Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Akhilesh Yadav, staged a sit-in outside the prime minister’s residence over the Delhi Police crackdown on NEET protesters. The leaders’ sit-in was prompted by the Delhi Police’s brutal use of force against students. The same police did not hesitate to use force against the opposition leaders as they detained and removed them from the protest site after talks with the government failed.

Even as the government is trying to reach out to the students half-heartedly, students marched to Parliament demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.

The opposition also demanded accountability for the alleged police action, an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the resignation of Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan. The deadlock, if not handled carefully, could result in yet another round of protests against the government, something the government would not want.

Police used lathi charges, tear gas, and pellets to disperse protesters, causing injuries and detentions. These kinds of atrocities are not unseen in India, and the police have always been associated with brutality.

What is even more disturbing is the government’s use of silence, violence on students, and unaccountability in dealing with such issues.