Jharkhand Student Protest Row: BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Over Police Action, Asks ‘Why No Demand for Hemant Soren’s Resignation?’

The political battle over the Jharkhand student protests has intensified, with the BJP turning its attack towards Congress leader Rahul Gandhi following clashes between protesters and police in Ranchi.

Harsh Malhotra, Delhi BJP president and Union Minister, on Tuesday criticised Gandhi over what he described as “brutal” police action against students protesting alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

At a press conference in Delhi, Malhotra questioned why Gandhi had not demanded the resignation of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren over the police action.

The BJP leader argued that the Congress supports the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led government and claimed that Gandhi’s silence on Soren amounted to accepting responsibility for the administration’s handling of the protests.

BJP says Rahul Gandhi is applying ‘double standards’

Malhotra sought to draw a comparison between Gandhi’s response to student protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and the Congress leader’s position on the situation in Jharkhand.

“Brutal police action against students protesting against paper leaks in Jharkhand has exposed the real face of Rahul Gandhi,” Malhotra said, while referring to Gandhi’s earlier presence and statements concerning student-related protests.

The BJP leader claimed that Gandhi had presented himself differently during the Jantar Mantar demonstrations and challenged him to take a clear position on the Jharkhand protests.

However, these statements represent the BJP’s political criticism of Rahul Gandhi and should not be treated as an independently established conclusion about his position.

Harsh Malhotra challenges Rahul Gandhi in Lok Sabha

The Union Minister also questioned Gandhi’s participation in parliamentary proceedings.

Malhotra challenged the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to attend Parliament and participate in discussions concerning students’ demands.

He also accused Gandhi of avoiding proceedings or disrupting the House when Union Home Minister Amit Shah speaks.

The remarks come amid a broader political confrontation between the BJP and opposition parties over student protests, recruitment examinations and alleged irregularities in government selection processes.

What happened during the Ranchi protest?

The immediate controversy follows a tense protest in Ranchi on Monday, when thousands of students and job aspirants marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly.

According to reports, protesters breached multiple police barricades, after which clashes broke out between demonstrators and security personnel.

Several protesters, including women, were injured in the confrontation. Four policemen were also reportedly injured.

Police used water cannons and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd and prevent the protesters from advancing further.

The incident has since become a major political issue, with opposition parties and the BJP taking different positions on the police response.

ALSO READ : ‘PM Enjoys Playing the Victim Card’: Jairam Ramesh Demands Modi’s Apology Over NEET, Ram Mandir Trust Row and Demonetisation

Why are students protesting in Jharkhand?

The student and job aspirant protests have reportedly been continuing since July 25.

The protesters are demanding wide-ranging reforms in the functioning of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

Among their demands are the cancellation of several recruitment examinations and an independent investigation into alleged irregularities.

The protesters have also called for the probe to be conducted either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or by a panel of retired High Court judges from outside Jharkhand.

The demands have turned the issue into more than a single protest over an examination, with demonstrators seeking broader changes to the state’s recruitment system.

The political fight is now bigger than the protest

The Ranchi clashes have given political parties another opportunity to challenge their opponents over law and order, recruitment and student rights.

For the BJP, the focus has shifted towards Rahul Gandhi and the Congress’ support for the JMM-led government.

For the protesting students and job aspirants, however, the central issue remains their demand for changes in the recruitment process and an independent investigation into alleged irregularities.

The situation also puts pressure on the Hemant Soren government, which faces questions over how it is handling the protests and the demands being raised by thousands of aspirants.

As the political accusations continue, the students’ core demands — recruitment reforms, examination cancellations and an independent inquiry — remain at the centre of the Jharkhand controversy.