Farmer leader & BJP ally Khot calls protesting students terrorists

Attacks opposition

Calling the NEET paper leak a conspiracy, Khot said the culprits had been arrested and investigations were underway as he questioned the demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

“The government has taken the stance that the guilty will not be spared. Those who qualified in NEET are rushing for admissions, but those who have no connection to it are demanding resignations,” Khot said.

“Dharmendra Pradhan has no connection to the paper leak issue. However, the INDIA bloc and MVA are in the habit of creating anti-government sentiment and continuously spreading falsehoods. The INDIA bloc and MVA are trying to create a situation akin to terrorism,” he added.

“The government should not accept the Education Minister’s resignation under any circumstances. Narendra at the Centre, Devendra in the state, and Dharmendra in education,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Modi, Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis, and Pradhan.

While Fadnavis said he was not aware of Khot’s statement, his Cabinet colleague, Shambhuraj Desai, who belongs to the Shiv Sena, said protesters cannot be called terrorists.

“In a democracy, everyone has the right to protest. However, smashing and destroying police vehicles, taking the law into one’s own hands, is not right. At the same time, protesters cannot be called terrorists,” Desai said.

NCP-SP spokesperson Sunil Mane said Khot’s statement was “highly deplorable”. “He should have thought several times before calling protesting students terrorists. We condemn his words.”

Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari called Khot’s statement “shocking”.

“How can one call a protest by students in a democratic way an act of terrorism? Actually, Khot reflects the mindset of Modi, which treats citizens who resort to democratic ways as terrorists, and it backs those who loot the country.”

Another farmer leader, MLA Bacchu Kadu, urged Khot to retract his statement. “Sadabhau Khot’s statement is completely wrong. He needs to correct his statement. Protests have been the soul of this country; our nation gained its freedom through movements,” Kadu added.