Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister VD Satheesan Wednesday condemned the Delhi police action against leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other MPs during a protest march over the alleged NEET paper leak, describing it as “brutal police excess”.Satheesan alleged that Gandhi and the MPs were forcibly detained in an unacceptable manner. He said the police had used excessive force against the protesters, adding that the Centre had earlier adopted a similar approach towards students agitating over the issue.“The incident is completely unacceptable. We register our strongest protest against the police action. The agitation will continue,” the chief minister said.Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan also condemned Gandhi’s detention during the march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, alleging that attempts to suppress the protest would only strengthen public support for the movement.Pinarayi said Left student organisations had supported the agitation from the outset and actively participated in the demonstrations. He added that several opposition parties and MPs had also joined the protest.He further claimed that the CPM general secretary, senior party leaders and MPs had formed a protective cordon to resist police action against the protesters. Citing media reports, Pinarayi alleged that groups carrying sticks, alongside the police, had attacked demonstrators.Pinarayi said the opposition had consistently raised alleged NEET examination irregularities, demanding the Union Minister’s resignation both on the streets and in Parliament. He also strongly protested Rahul Gandhi’s detention. .
