Ruling NDA MPs on Tuesday staged a protest outside Parliament against the alleged police crackdown on job aspirants in Jharkhand and accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of avoiding a debate on student protests across the country.
The MPs marched from the Parliament Library to Makar Dwar, raising slogans including “Rahul Gandhi Jawab Do” and “Rahul Gandhi Bhago Mat”.
The protest came a day after the government announced a discussion on student protests, with Home Minister Amit Shah expected to respond. Gandhi, however, said he wanted answers on whether Shah had ordered the use of pellet guns against protesting students, rather than a discussion on “general topics”.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused Gandhi of exposing his “mindset” and alleged that Jharkhand student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who is on hunger strike, was beaten up during the protests.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut also alleged that job aspirants in Jharkhand were subjected to police excesses, including lathi-charge, water cannons and tear gas. “We have to speak out about this,” she said, demanding accountability.
Meanwhile, Opposition MPs, including Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, staged a counter-protest in the Parliament complex over alleged police excesses against student protesters and the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
The rival protests saw members of the ruling and Opposition camps come face-to-face, with security personnel forming a cordon between them.
The Jharkhand student agitation intensified on Monday after thousands of job aspirants marched towards the state Assembly over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Police used water cannons and resorted to lathi-charge after protesters breached multiple barricades. The Enforcement Directorate has also launched a money-laundering probe into the alleged recruitment exam anomalies.
(With inputs from PTI)