'This Is No Less Than Emergency': Akhilesh Yadav Hits Back at Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha

A heated exchange unfolded in Parliament as Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav clashed over the student protests and the Emergency.

Kiren Rijiju defended the government's decision to bring a Bill after engaging with protesting students, asking whether listening to students was better than imposing an Emergency to crush protests.

Responding sharply, Akhilesh Yadav said he had not witnessed the Emergency but claimed recent police action in the national capital-including tear gas, barricades with spikes, and other security measures-was "no less than an Emergency." He also remarked that just as political change followed the Emergency, change would come again.