New Delhi, August 11: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of adopting a dual approach regarding student protests. The party claims that while Congress takes an aggressive stance against the central government over alleged irregularities in the NEET exam and actions by the Delhi police, it shows a comparatively lenient attitude towards similar student movements and police actions in Jharkhand, where Congress is part of the ruling coalition.
BJP leaders stated that Rahul Gandhi did not clarify his position on the Jharkhand issue until questioned by the media. Additionally, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra faced inquiries on the matter as she entered Parliament.
During her entry into Parliament, Priyanka Gandhi encountered protests. Demonstrators accused Rahul Gandhi of not visiting Jharkhand despite the ongoing student protests and police actions.
The BJP criticized Congress for not condemning its ally, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), and Chief Minister Hemant Soren, labeling it as political hypocrisy.
On Monday, Union Health Minister JP Nadda and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju criticized Rahul Gandhi and Congress, claiming the party is disrupting parliamentary proceedings and exhibiting double standards on student protests.
The current monsoon session of Parliament has seen multiple disruptions due to uproar from opposition parties. The Congress-led opposition has raised issues such as the NEET paper leak, police actions against protesters, and irregularities in the Ayodhya Ram Temple donations.
In response to media queries on Monday, Rahul Gandhi condemned the use of force against peacefully protesting students in Jharkhand. He emphasized that students have the right to protest and that their issues can only be resolved through dialogue.
Rahul Gandhi urged the Hemant Soren government to listen to the students and address their concerns promptly, although he did not directly hold the state government accountable.
On Tuesday, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra responded to BJP MPs protesting at the entrance of Parliament, stating that Rahul Gandhi had already met with students from Jharkhand. She reiterated the demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make a statement on the issue in the House, while also mocking the BJP MPs for their protests, saying it was the first time she had seen ruling party MPs protest.
On Monday, police used batons, tear gas, and water cannons to prevent thousands of students from marching towards the assembly in Ranchi. Several students were injured during the clashes, while police claimed that many of their personnel were also hurt in stone-pelting incidents.
Meanwhile, student leader Devendra Nath Mahto’s health deteriorated after a nine-day hunger strike, leading to his hospitalization.
Students are protesting against alleged paper leaks and irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment exams. They are demanding the cancellation of the exams, reforms in the recruitment process, and investigations into corruption by central agencies.
Rahul Gandhi condemned the use of force, reiterating that students have the right to peaceful protest. However, he did not demand the resignation or accountability of the Jharkhand government, unlike his aggressive stance against the central government in the NEET case.
The BJP characterized this as Rahul Gandhi’s dual approach, asserting that if Congress genuinely stands with the students, it should withdraw its support from the Jharkhand government.
The BJP also claimed that following recent electoral defeats, Congress is reluctant to destabilize the governments in the few states where it holds power. This reluctance is seen as the reason Congress condemned police actions but refrained from directly attacking Chief Minister Hemant Soren, despite its consistent criticism of the central government.
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