National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs staged a protest in the Parliament complex on Tuesday, accusing Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of “running away” from a debate on the students’ protests in Jharkhand.
The MPs carried placards demanding answers from Gandhi and highlighting the alleged lathi-charge on students in Jharkhand. The Congress is part of the Hemant Soren-led government in the state.
The protest comes amid a continuing logjam during the Monsoon Session, with the Opposition demanding a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the alleged police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar on July 20.
“Amit Shah ji will give the answer. Rahul Gandhi, don't run. Rahul Gandhi, shame on you. Give an answer on the brutality against students in Jharkhand,” BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said.
BJP MPs accused the Congress and other Opposition parties of holding Parliament hostage and preventing discussions on important issues.
“This is such an important session of Parliament, and the government has been saying that it is ready for discussion. The government has brought a strict new law to deal with paper leaks. The Union Home Minister is also ready to speak in the House, but their (Opposition’s) only aim is to create hungama,” Union Minister Anupriya Patel said.
BJP MP Anurag Thakur alleged that the treatment of students in Jharkhand, including the reported use of force, reflected the “mindset” of Rahul Gandhi.
“The Home Minister is ready to provide answers, but Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party are peddling lies and making reckless statements merely to stay in the headlines,” he said.
BJP MP Kangana Ranaut also raised the issue, alleging that students in Jharkhand had been subjected to atrocities.
“They have been brutally beaten, and water cannons and tear gas have been used against them. We have to speak out about this. We are demanding answers on this,” she said.
The protest by NDA MPs came a day after the government informed the Opposition that Amit Shah was ready to make a statement in Parliament on the students’ protest.
However, Rahul Gandhi said the country was not interested in Shah’s views on “general topics” in Parliament and wanted to know whether he had ordered the firing of pellet guns at protesting students.
