Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence, labelling his conduct as “irresponsible” and a violation of the dignity of the high office.

Addressing a press conference here in the national capital, Prasad took a swipe at Gandhi’s political lineage, reminding him that he comes from a family that has seen three Prime Ministers.

“He is sitting on a dharna at the gate of the Prime Minister’s residence. His father (Rajiv Gandhi) was the Prime Minister, his grandmother Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister, and his great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru was also the Prime Minister of India. He, of all people, should know the dignity and sanctity of the Prime Minister’s residence. Despite this, the kind of irresponsible behaviour he has displayed is highly condemnable,” Prasad said.

Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad further announced on that the Bharatiya Janata Party will hold nationwide protests today against the Congress party.

“The BJP will hold protests today across the country against Congress outside congress office for the unruly protest outside the PM’s house yesterday,’ he added.

Questioning the Congress leader’s “obstinacy,” the BJP leader asked if the country would be governed by Gandhi’s whims.

“How do you intend to function? Will you just sit there forcibly? You were engaged in a dialogue. They (the government) were ready for a debate on the NEET issue, but then you backed out? Does this country run on your stick? Will it run on your arrogance? Rahul Gandhi, you have been irresponsible. I condemn your entire conduct,” Prasad added.

The senior BJP leader further justified the police intervention at the protest site, stating that the law enforcement agencies were forced to act to maintain security and public peace.

“Later, the police were forced to take action, which was necessary for security and for maintaining peace. The Prime Minister has always been clear on these issues,” he said.

Prasad further justified the police intervention at the protest site, stating that law enforcement agencies were forced to act to maintain security and public peace.

Turning his focus to the ongoing controversy surrounding competitive examinations, Prasad highlighted the government’s proactive measures to ensure transparency and fairness.

“In the past, irregularities were reported in several states during various examinations. Consequently, foolproof exams were conducted immediately after cancellations. The results have been declared with a 56-57% success rate, and students are satisfied. These exams were held without charging any additional fees,” Prasad told reporters.

Emphasising the government’s commitment to the youth, he said, “All the candidates appearing for NEET and other exams are our children. It is our duty to be concerned about their future, and we will fulfill that responsibility. Those involved in irregularities have been arrested and are facing trial. The government is ensuring that their trial leads to certain punishment.”

The senior leader concluded by reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to systemic reforms. “To further improve the system, a thorough investigation and scrutiny are underway. The Prime Minister has given a clear assurance regarding the sanctity of NEET and all other examinations,” he said.

Twenty-one more people lost their lives and nearly 5.65 lakh were affected by floods in Assam with incessant rain across several districts deteriorating the overall situation on Wednesday, officials said.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority’s (ASDMA) daily flood report issued at midnight on Tuesday, more than 5,64,600 people have been hit by the deluge in Biswanath, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts.

Thirteen people, including four women and two children, drowned in floodwaters in the Sivasagar district, followed by five, including two children, in Charaideo, two in Golaghat, and one woman in Jorhat in the last 24 hours, it added.

With these fatalities, the total number of deaths in this year’s floods has increased to 31.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a ‘yellow alert’ for Assam and predicted thunderstorms and heavy rains at isolated places over the next four days.

The ‘yellow alert’ of the IMD stands for watch and be updated.

IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati said that the upper air cyclonic circulation over Central Assam and adjoining Nagaland between 1.5 and 3.1 km above mean sea level has become less marked.

At present, the Brahmaputra river is flowing above the danger mark at Neamatighat, while its tributaries Buridihing at Khowang, and Dhansiri at Golaghat and Numaligarh are also above the danger level.

On the other hand, the Dikhou river at Sivasagar and Disang river at Nanglamuraghat are flowing above the highest flood level, the ASDMA said.

Sivasagar is the worst-hit district with nearly 3.6 lakh people affected, followed by Jorhat with almost 88,000 and Charaideo with more than 72,500 reeling under floodwaters.

The flood situation has worsened significantly since Monday night, when nearly 3.63 lakh people were affected across 15 districts.

The ASDMA said the administration has been operating 273 relief camps and relief distribution centres in 10 districts, taking care of 12,284 displaced people at present.

Multiple agencies, like the Army, NDRF, SDRF, Fire & Emergency Service, police and civil agencies, have rescued more than 6,000 people from different parts of Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar, the report added.

The authority has distributed 5,011.07 quintals of rice, 956.53 quintals of dal, 265.18 quintals of salt and 20,115.42 litres of mustard oil among the flood victims during the last 24 hours.

At present, 872 villages are under water, and 24,210.35 hectares of crop areas have been damaged across Assam, the ASDMA said.

Embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructure have been damaged by floodwaters in different districts of the state.

On account of widespread flooding, 1,85,029 domestic animals and poultry are affected across the state.

Punjabi star Diljit Dosanjh on Tuesday said the police action against protesters during their “Sansad Chalo” march was “wrong” and insisted that the government must listen to students’ demand, while acknowledging that he could once again be labelled “anti-national”.

As part of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) “Sansad Chalo” protest, thousands of protesters gathered on Monday marched towards Parliament but were met with tear gas and lathi-charge by police.

“What happened today was very wrong. Students should not have been treated like this. I request the authorities to listen to the students’ demands. The voice of the people is the voice of God,” Diljit wrote in Punjabi on his Intagram Stories.

The actor also recalled the backlash and legal issues he faced when he supported the yearlong farmer’s protests in 2020-2021.

“I have already been labelled an ‘anti-national’ many times. Even now, I know I will be called anti-national again. After the farmers’ protest, I faced a lot of backlash and legal problems that I still cannot even discuss. The rest, God is watching everything. May Baba bless everyone,” the “Main Vaapas Aaunga” actor said.

Earlier this month, Diljit had distanced himself from the CJP protest, saying he is an artiste, not a politician.

“Keep me away from all this… Bro, I’m an artist. I’m no politician, I don’t know what you think I am,” Diljit had said during an Instagram Live session on July 1.

The CJP, an organic movement against paper leaks and alleged irregularities in the exam system that started with a comment by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant referring to the youth as ‘cockroaches’, has been sitting at Jantar Mantar since June 20. The protest gathered traction with activist Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike.

The movement has received support from celebrities including Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, Prakash Raj, Anurag Kashyap, Sonakshi Sinha, Kiran Rao and Vir Das.

A day after a protest march towards Parliament over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak turned violent, Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) activist Abhijeet Dipke on Tuesday accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force against protesters and alleged that the party’s delegation was “trapped” during talks with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.

Addressing reporters, Dipke claimed that a two-member CJP delegation was invited for discussions with Nadda while police launched a lathi-charge against protesters outside.

“JP Nadda invited our panel to have a discussion, and they offered that they would find a solution and have a dialogue. After calling us for talks, they were conducting a lathi charge here. So, they were trapping us. They even house-arrested Saurabh Das and Ashutosh Shanka at JP Nadda’s house. They took away their phones. We were unable to reach them for three hours,” Dipke alleged.

He accused the Centre of ordering a “brutal lathi-charge” to shield Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and questioned the use of force against students.

“If you wanted to stop the march, you could have used water cannons, but you used tear gas and a brutal lathi charge. What was the need to crack the children’s heads? These children are the future of this country,” he said.

Dipke further alleged that male Delhi Police personnel assaulted female protesters during the crackdown.

“Yesterday, the whole country saw how brutally the Delhi Police cracked the heads of even 12-year-old girls. The police beat the girls, tore their clothes, and stepped on their chests. No female police officer touched any girl; all those who raised their hands were male police officers,” he claimed.

The activist also said social activist Sonam Wangchuk had decided to continue his hunger strike following the alleged police action.

“In view of the brutality that occurred yesterday, Sonam sir, who was going to break his fast yesterday, will not break it now. He is deeply saddened by what has happened and has conveyed through a letter that he will continue his hunger strike in light of the alleged atrocities committed against the students,” Dipke said.

He asserted that the CJP would continue its agitation and announce its next course of action soon.

“We are going to continue our protest, and we will be announcing our next big event soon,” he said.

Dipke’s remarks came a day after Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda met CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka and chief spokesperson Saurav Das at his residence amid escalating protests over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.

According to Delhi Police, more than 118 police personnel were injured during Monday’s violence at Jantar Mantar, and five FIRs have been registered in connection with alleged stone-pelting, vandalism and other incidents during the protest.

Delhi Police has yet to respond publicly to the specific allegations made by Dipke regarding the treatment of protesters.