Congress Workers Defy Torrential Rain in Late-Night Protest Against Centre in Silvassa
DNH Congress President Prabhu Tokiya leads overnight demonstration as workers brave heavy downpour to demand accountability on national issues — chants of "Dharmendra Pradhan resign" echo through Silvassa streets past midnight
SILVASSA — Undeterred by relentless torrential rain, workers and leaders of the Dadra & Nagar Haveli Pradesh Congress Committee staged a vociferous late-night protest against the Centre on Tuesday, July 22, 2026, turning the streets of Silvassa into a theatre of democratic resistance well past midnight.
Led by Pradesh Congress President Prabhu Tokiya, hundreds of Congress workers and supporters gathered at the main protest site in Silvassa despite a heavy downpour that lashed the Union Territory through the evening and night. The demonstration, which began in the evening, continued late into the night as participants refused to disperse, chanting slogans against the Union government.
Rain Fails to Dampen Spirits
Eyewitnesses described scenes of remarkable determination as Congress workers — men and women across age groups — stood in ankle-deep water, holding party flags and placards, raising slogans that pierced through the sound of rainfall.
Chants of "Dharmendra Pradhan Istifa Do" (Dharmendra Pradhan Resign), "Modi Sarkar Hosh Mein Aao" (Modi Government, Wake Up), and "Nyay Do, Nyay Do" (Deliver Justice) reverberated through the streets as the protest continued past 11 PM, with no sign of dwindling numbers despite the worsening weather.
"The rain is heavy, but our resolve is heavier. We are here because the issues at stake — the future of our students, the integrity of our examinations, the accountability of those in power — are far more important than a little discomfort."
— A senior Congress worker at the protest site
Tokiya: "Congress Will Continue to Fight for People's Rights"
"The Congress party is continuously struggling for the present condition of the country, important issues related to the public, and the protection of democratic values. The Central government must answer for the people's problems and take immediate effective action on issues of public interest. Raising the voice of the people in a democratic system is the right of every citizen, and the Congress will continue to struggle in this manner on issues of public interest."
Addressing the gathering, Tokiya emphasised that the protest was not merely symbolic but a reflection of growing public anger over a range of national issues — from the NEET-UG paper leak scandal and repeated examination irregularities to what he described as the "systematic erosion of democratic institutions" under the current dispensation.
🎯 Key Demands Raised
- Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET paper leaks
- Accountability for repeated examination scams affecting lakhs of students
- Protection of democratic values and constitutional institutions
- Immediate government action on price rise, unemployment, and agrarian distress
Workers Vow to Continue Struggle
Congress leaders and workers present at the protest stressed that the demonstration was an exercise of their democratic right and vowed to continue similar actions until the Centre addresses their demands.
"In a democracy, raising people's voices is not just a right — it is a duty," said a district-level Congress functionary. "This government thinks it can ignore the people's pain. Tonight, in this rain, we have shown that we will not be silenced. The struggle will continue."
The protest saw participation from across the DNH Congress organisational structure — district presidents, block presidents, frontal organisation heads (Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, NSUI, Seva Dal), and grassroots workers from both Silvassa and Khanvel areas.
Photos from the Ground
The Silvassa protest comes amid a wave of Congress-led demonstrations across the country targeting the Centre over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy. The party has called for a nationwide agitation demanding Pradhan's resignation and a Supreme Court-monitored probe into examination irregularities.
In Dadra & Nagar Haveli, the Congress — currently the principal opposition force — has been attempting to rebuild its organisational presence ahead of upcoming local body elections. Tuesday night's turnout, despite the weather, is being seen by party insiders as a sign of growing worker enthusiasm.
"The rain was a test," said a party observer. "And the workers passed it. This kind of spontaneous, weather-defying participation hasn't been seen in DNH Congress activities in recent memory."
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Reporting: Silvassa Press Bureau (on-ground in Silvassa)
Inputs: DNH Congress media cell, local witnesses
Edited by: Senior Editor, DNH Desk
Tags: #DNHCongress #CongressProtest #PrabhuTokiya #SilvassaNews #IndianNewsNetworkLive
