New Delhi | Delhi Police on Tuesday rejected allegations by the CJP's chief spokesperson that security personnel used pellet guns against protesters during the "Chalo Sansad" march, terming the claim "completely false and misleading".
CJP's Saurav Das shared a video on his official X handle alleging that police had fired pellet guns at peaceful protesters. The post also carried a video showing a man lying injured in a hospital, claiming he had sustained pellet injuries during the protest.
Responding to the allegation, Delhi Police issued a "Fake News Alert" on its official X account, denying the claim.
"Reports claiming that police forces are using pellet guns against peaceful protesters are completely false and misleading," the police said.
The force urged people not to share or circulate unverified content and advised the public to verify facts only through official sources before posting or forwarding information on social media.
"Appropriate legal action will be taken against individuals found spreading rumours or misinformation," read the post of the Delhi Police.
At least 60 protesters and 118 police personnel were injured in clashes that erupted in New Delhi district when demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament during the "Chalo Sansad" protest.
Thiruvananthapuram/New Delhi | Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Tuesday condemned the police action against students protesting in the national capital and said he had joined the Congress-led march to the Prime Minister's residence in solidarity with them.
In a Facebook post, Satheesan described the developments in Delhi as "extraordinary" and said the country's youth and students, who represent its future, had come under brutal attack.
"These are extraordinary developments taking place in the country. The youth and students, who are the hopes of the nation, have been brutally attacked in the national capital," he said.
The chief minister said the protest march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence was being led by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, AICC general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and K C Venugopal.
"I, along with Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and MPs from Kerala, was part of this march. This is a time for the country to stand united. Everyone should join this cause," Satheesan said.
Thousands of students and activists gathered at Jantar Mantar on Monday for the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed march to Parliament despite heavy security arrangements, multi-layered barricades and prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
Police used force, including lathicharge and tear gas shells, after protesters attempted to march towards Parliament, with both sides blaming each other for the violence.
The agitation, which began on June 20, is seeking accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, reforms in the education system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protest gathered further political backing on Tuesday, with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with Kharge and several senior party leaders, staging a dharna outside the Prime Minister's Lok Kalyan Marg residence and demanding Narendra Modi's resignation over the police action against the student protesters.
Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph condemned the alleged use of force by the Delhi Police and central security personnel against Kerala Minister P C Vishnunath and MPs Kodikunnil Suresh and Dean Kuriakose during the protest outside the Prime Minister's residence.
In a statement, Joseph termed the police action "undemocratic" and alleged that the elected representatives were arrested without being accorded due consideration as public representatives. He said attempts to suppress peaceful protests through force would weaken democratic values.
He also alleged that the action against the minister and MPs was a continuation of the police crackdown on students protesting over alleged irregularities in NEET-UG and other competitive examinations.
KPCC general secretary (organisation) Neyyattinkara Sanal announced that the party would organise statewide protests on Wednesday evening at district headquarters and Assembly constituency centres to protest the police action against the Kerala minister and MPs.
