New Delhi, July 23: The political landscape has intensified following a press conference held by Union Health Minister JP Nadda. Leaders from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress, and BJP have voiced their reactions. The opposition accused the government of suppressing student voices and evading accountability, while the BJP claimed that Congress and other opposition parties are attempting to exploit student issues for political gain.
RJD MP Sudhakar Singh questioned whether the government would determine if there would be protests or political movements in the country. He raised concerns about why the government resorts to force instead of engaging in dialogue when thousands of students gather at Jantar Mantar to voice their demands. Despite instances of police brutality against students, the government has neither apologized nor addressed their grievances. Singh criticized the government’s failure to take effective action against those responsible for paper leak incidents, noting that despite multiple leaks and CBI investigations, no one has been punished.
He emphasized that the protesting students are not affiliated with any political party but are children from ordinary families, urging the government to engage with them to find solutions. Singh lamented that the opposition is not being given a chance to speak in Parliament, and the use of force against citizens evokes memories of an emergency-like situation. He also pointed out the delay in filing charges against the main accused in the NEET case, Sanjeev Mukhiya, and leveled serious accusations against the central government regarding paper leak syndicates.
Congress leader Sukdev Bhagat stated that millions of students have been affected by paper leaks, jeopardizing their futures. Many students have aged out of eligibility, and repeated exams are causing distress. He asserted that raising such issues is not merely political but a matter of the youth’s future. Rahul Gandhi has consistently highlighted these issues over the past two years, yet the government remains unresponsive. Students are facing police brutality, and their voices are being stifled with barricades, while opposition members are silenced in Parliament.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera questioned why Health Minister JP Nadda was responding at a press conference when the protests were directed against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He criticized the government for avoiding accountability by having various ministers respond, while the Prime Minister remains silent. The use of force against students and tear gas has been alarming, with expectations for the opposition to remain quiet.
Khera also criticized the functioning of the NTA, suggesting it should have been established as an independent statutory body rather than operated as a society.
BJP leader RP Singh argued that serious issues like paper leaks should not be viewed politically. He mentioned that the central government introduced stringent laws to combat paper leaks in 2024, which were passed by Parliament. He claimed that during that time, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav did not provide any suggestions regarding the law, yet they are now politicizing the issue.
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