Ruling, opposition supporters clash in India as row intensifies

Supporters of the ruling BJP and Congress clashed on the streets across states in India on Wednesday after the opposition's protest near the Prime Minister's residence, reported ANI.

Both Congress and BJP also held nationwide protests on Wednesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and other leaders held a sit-in protest at Lok Kalyan Marg.

Several leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and Charanjit Singh Channi, were detained by the police.

BJP protest against Congress leaders ended in a scuffle with Students' Federation of India (SFI) activists, who were already holding a hunger strike outside the Deputy Commissioner's Office at CTO Chowk in Shimla. Police personnel intervened and brought the situation under control.

SFI Himachal Pradesh State Secretary Vivek Birsanta alleged that BJP workers attacked students who were peacefully proceeding towards the Deputy Commissioner's office, while BJP Himachal Pradesh Vice-President Balbir Verma alleged that the party's protest had been organised with prior permission and accused Congress supporters of attempting to disrupt the programme.

A huge protest was held in Mandya, Karnataka, by the District Youth Congress against the NEET-UG paper leak, condemning the central government.

The protest march started from the MIMS premises in Mandya and culminated at Sanajay Circle.

In Assam, the Pradesh Congress Committee organised a protest rally in Guwahati, demanding the immediate resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and the immediate withdrawal of all FIRs registered against protesting students in Delhi. BJP workers also staged a protest in Guwahati against Congress' Lok Kalyan Marg demonstration.

State Minister Pijush Hazarika said, "7 Lok Kalyan Marg is the residence of the Prime Minister of India, not the private residence of an individual. Therefore, we condemn the drama staged by the Congress Party leader and the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, by going to that residence. As far as the students' movement is concerned, we will not speak against it. We respect the students and their right to express their concerns."

Congress workers protested in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, while the BJP was seen protesting in Karnataka, Manipur and Madhya Pradesh as well.

Meanwhile, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed several adjournments amid a deadlock between the Centre and the Opposition, as the INDIA bloc sought Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and insisted on a discussion on the NEET-UG paper leak.

Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday alleged that the internet has reportedly been "shut down" around Jantar Mantar, the scene of the CJP-led protests demanding the resignation of the Education Minister over the recent paper leak controversy and said it has been reported that security has been tightened in the area.

Meanwhile, a Delhi Police officer was injured in fresh violence in Connaught Place on Wednesday as some protesters attacked police with stones and bottles, officials said.