Even as students remain on the streets of Ranchi demanding justice over alleged recruitment exam irregularities, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday turned his attention to a protest that had already concluded.
At his 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha interacted with five students who had taken part in the now-ended Jantar Mantar protest against the Centre over the NEET-UG paper leak and alleged flaws in the education system. The agitation ended on July 26, a day after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, fulfilling the protesters' main demand.
Since then, however, national attention has shifted to Jharkhand, where thousands of students have been demonstrating in Ranchi since July 25 against the Hemant Soren-led government over alleged irregularities in the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) examination and concerns surrounding the functioning of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).
The protesters are seeking cancellation of the examination, institutional reforms in both commissions, and an independent investigation by either the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside the state.
Despite the ongoing agitation in a state where the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) governs with Congress as a coalition partner, Rahul Gandhi did not refer to the protests in Ranchi.
Instead, he focused on praising the students who had participated in the Jantar Mantar protest, highlighting what he described as their courage and recalling the police action they allegedly faced, including lathi-charge, tear gas and pellet guns.
"These people fought for the Constitution and the education system of India. They didn't attack anyone. They were lathi-charged," Gandhi said while addressing the media alongside the students.
"It is our duty to protect them. You have all done great work. You don't need to apologise. You haven't done anything wrong," he told the participants.
He also criticised the BJP leadership, saying, "These young people dare to stand before India's media. But Home Minister Amit Shah and the prime minister don't dare to stand here."
The students who joined Gandhi represented various states and had become known faces during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest in Delhi.
They included Rhiya Ahir from Mumbai, whose attempt to stop a police van during the protest had gone viral; Nutan Toppo from Jharkhand, who was reportedly injured by pellet gun fire during the agitation; Farah Naaz from Uttar Pradesh; Bharat Banait from Nagpur, who said he had been protesting since June; and Muskan, another participant in the CJP-led Jantar Mantar movement.
The timing of Gandhi's interaction has drawn attention, as it came well after the Delhi protest ended.
While he commended student activism against the BJP-led Centre, students in Jharkhand continue to accuse the Soren government of failing to ensure transparency in recruitment examinations, with the agitation gaining momentum in recent days.
Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto has been on a hunger strike for four days in support of the students' demands.
"Our five friends, including two women, went on hunger strike from Tuesday night to press for our demands," JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch spokesperson Jivan Kumar said, adding that the group's core committee would soon decide on holding a Tiranga March to expand public support.
Despite the intensifying protests in Ranchi, Rahul Gandhi did not comment on the allegations against the JMM-Congress government or express support for the students protesting there.
The contrast has attracted attention, as Gandhi revisited a protest against the BJP that ended 10 days ago while remaining silent on a similar movement directed at a government in which Congress is a coalition partner.
While speaking in support of students is not unusual, Gandhi's silence on the ongoing Jharkhand agitation, even as the focus shifts from New Delhi to Ranchi, is likely to raise questions about whether political responses vary depending on which party is in power.
