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Addressing the media after interacting with the fasting students, Gandhi alleged that India's education system has been "captured" and said the movement represents the voice of students across the country. Gandhi said, "I discussed with the students who were on hunger strike about this movement, the RSS and how the education system of India has been taken over. The main thing we want to say is that the students have three demands, and these are non-negotiable demands – and this is not just me saying this, this is what the students of India are saying."

Three 'non-negotiable' demands of students

Listing the demands, Gandhi said that the first demand is to dismiss Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He said, "The first demand is that the Education Minister, who is corrupt, incompetent and misguided, should be sacked... There is discussion in Mr Modi's cabinet that the solution is to send Dharmendra Pradhan from education to another ministry. This is completely unacceptable... There will be no conversation about sending Mr Dharmendra Pradhan here or there... He should be sacked."

Action should be taken against those responsible for violence against protesters

Referring to students allegedly injured during the protests, Gandhi demanded action against those responsible. Gandhi said, "Yesterday, I introduced a youth who was shot in the eye, and there are thousands of youth whose legs were broken with sticks and whose bodies are filled with shrapnel. Those responsible for this – both the organizers and the executioners – must be punished and held accountable."

Prime Minister Modi should apologize to the students

The Congress leader further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologize to the students for the way he handled the protests. “The leader of this entire machinery that orchestrated these actions, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, should apologize for what he has done to the students and the future of this country,” Gandhi said.

Reiterating his stand, Gandhi said that the issue will not be resolved by removing Dharmendra Pradhan from the Education Ministry and assigning him to some other department. "The BJP cabinet is discussing sending him to another ministry as a solution, but this is not acceptable to anyone. Dharmendra Pradhan is a symbol of what was done to our students," he said.

He also alleged that students were attacked during the protests and demanded accountability. Gandhi said, "This young woman here has a ligament injury, and the young man I brought yesterday has a shrapnel in his eye and may lose his eyesight. Thousands of other students have been threatened, beaten with sticks and attacked. Those who enforced and organized this violence must be held accountable and punished."

The Congress leader stressed that the students' three demands - removal of the education minister, action against those responsible for the alleged use of force on protesters and an apology from the Prime Minister - are non-negotiable. (ANI)