Rahul should protest outside J'khand CM's residence for students if he has courage: Union Minister

Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Sunday stepped up his attack on the Jharkhand government over the ongoing students’ agitation in Ranchi, while also questioning Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the protest.

Seth visited the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium and expressed solidarity with the students, who have been demonstrating over alleged irregularities in the 14th Civil Services Preliminary Examination conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC).

The agitation entered its 16th day on Sunday, with the second round of talks between representatives of the protesting students and the state government failing to resolve the dispute. The students continue to press for action on their demands, including a probe into the alleged irregularities.

Speaking to IANS at the protest site, Seth questioned why Rahul Gandhi had not visited Ranchi to meet the protesting students.

“Rahul Gandhi, the people of Jharkhand are calling you, but Rahul Gandhi is missing. Rahul Gandhi is a hypocrite; he looks at everything through a political lens,” Seth alleged.

He further challenged the Congress leader to come to Ranchi and meet the students, saying, “If you have the courage, come to Ranchi. If he has the courage, he should sit outside the Chief Minister’s residence.”

Seth also accused Gandhi of adopting “double standards” on student-related protests, alleging that the Congress leader has been vocal about such issues in Delhi but has not extended similar support to students protesting in Jharkhand.

Gandhi has meanwhile spoken about the need for governments to work towards changes in the education system.

The Union minister also accused the Jharkhand government and the INDIA bloc of attempting to weaken the students’ movement by involving organisations such as the NSUI and JMM Yuva Morcha.

“Within 24 hours itself, on the first day, the Chief Minister should have come to meet them. These are our children, our daughters, and the government remained silent for 16 days,” Seth alleged.

Drawing a parallel with the British-era “divide and rule” policy, he alleged that the state government was attempting to create divisions within the protesting students by engaging with different organisations separately.

Seth reiterated that the BJP would continue to support the students and their demands.

### Jharkhand BJP chief also targets government

Jharkhand BJP president Aditya Sahu also criticised the state government, accusing it of trying to politicise the issue instead of addressing the concerns raised by the students.

Speaking to reporters, Sahu said the emotional distress visible among the protesting students reflected the seriousness of the situation.

“The government needs to understand this, but they are busy politicising the issue. They are trying to divide the children by fielding NSUI and JMM Yuva Morcha members in the protest,” Sahu alleged.

He also questioned the government’s position on the students’ demand for a CBI investigation into the alleged examination irregularities.

“Why do they have a problem with a CBI probe?” Sahu asked.

Sahu too targeted Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader had raised student-related issues in Delhi but had not shown the same concern for the students protesting in Ranchi.

“Congress was shouting in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi tries to explain things to students over the phone. But Rahul Gandhi should first ask Chief Minister Hemant Soren about this,” Sahu said.

The BJP leader further challenged Gandhi to visit Ranchi and demonstrate his support for the protesting students.

The continuing agitation has put the Jharkhand government under increasing political pressure, with the BJP seeking to turn the students’ demands into a larger issue over transparency and accountability in the state’s competitive examination system. The failure of the latest round of talks also means that the standoff between the government and the protesting students remains unresolved.