Alappuzha , July 26
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal on Sunday said the party had consciously chosen not to take centre stage during the recent student-led agitation, maintaining that the movement belonged entirely to the country’s youth and not to any political organisation. He described the outcome of the protests as a victory for students who had fought against alleged irregularities in national entrance examinations.
Addressing reporters in Alappuzha, Venugopal said the Congress never sought to claim political credit for the agitation. Instead, the party believed the protests reflected the determination of young people who had united to raise concerns over the conduct of national-level entrance tests. “This is not the victory of any political party or platform. It is the victory of the youth,” he said.
Explaining the Congress strategy, Venugopal said the party deliberately avoided assuming a visible leadership role during the protests at Jantar Mantar. Had the Congress taken the lead, he argued, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would have attempted to portray the agitation as a politically motivated campaign to destabilise the Union government, thereby diverting attention from the students’ grievances.
Despite remaining in the background, the Congress provided full support to the movement, he said. The assistance included legal aid and organisational support throughout the course of the protests. According to Venugopal, the students were well aware of the party’s contribution even though it chose not to publicise its involvement.
Replying to questions about the participation of other opposition parties, Venugopal said the Congress had no objection to any democratic force joining the agitation, provided the movement remained sincere and focused on the issues raised by students. However, he cautioned that public protests should not lose credibility or become symbolic exercises, referring to activist Sonam Wangchuk as an example of how movements could lose focus.
On the proposed legislation currently under discussion, Venugopal said the opposition’s common stand would be finalised at a meeting of opposition parties on Monday. He also asserted that the Congress would firmly oppose any attempt to mislead the public on the issue.
