Akhilesh Yadav blasts Delhi’s police crackdown, wonders if this is really ‘Amrit Kaal’

Speaking to reporters inside Parliament, Samajwadi Party chief and Lok Sabha MP Akhilesh Yadav let it rip at the centre’s handling of the recent NEET paper‑leak scandal. He argued that a government which can’t stop a leak in a national exam has clearly lost its grip on basic integrity.

Yadav didn’t stop at the leak. He turned his gaze to the police response on Monday’s CJP march, describing it as a “lathi‑laden assault on the heads of our youth.” “We’re seeing tear‑gas shells, electric shocks… and students being beaten up,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration. “Is this ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’? Is this the promised ‘Amrit Kaal’?”

According to the official narrative, the protest turned violent when some demonstrators allegedly hurled stones and tried to breach barricades near Parliament. The Delhi Police claimed more than 118 officers were injured, while roughly 60 protestors also required medical attention. Yet Akhilesh questioned whether the force was proportionate, noting that many of those hurt were merely students exercising their democratic right to voice dissent.

He also hinted at a political motive behind the Union Education Minister’s refusal to resign. “Pressure isn’t building because they know a resignation could expose buried secrets,” Yadav speculated, suggesting that the minister’s continued stay is no accident.

Later that day, Union Health Minister JP Nadda paid a visit to Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, where several injured protesters were being treated. He met with the patients, consulted doctors, and then left – a routine gesture that drew little comment from opposition leaders.

Opposition figures, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also went to RML Hospital, offering condolences and asking for swift medical care for those hurt in the clash.

The protest, organised by the Corruption Eradication Movement (CJP), had a clear agenda: the resignation of the Education Minister, compensation of ₹1 crore for families of NEET aspirants who lost their lives, and the immediate release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk. Wangchuk, who had been on a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, was shifted to Safdarjung Hospital on July 18 after police escorted him there.

Hospital bulletins say Wangchuk’s vitals are stable, though his blood‑sugar and potassium levels remain low. He continues to receive oral rehydration and potassium supplements, while politely declining intravenous fluids and glucose – a small but telling act of defiance.

In the Lok Sabha, Akhilesh Yadav’s remarks sparked a muted debate. Some MPs echoed his concern over the use of force, while others defended the police, saying the protest had indeed crossed a line. The real question hanging in the air, however, is whether a nation that still battles paper leaks and police‑heavy crackdowns can truly claim it is living in a golden ‘Amrit Kaal.’