Ranchi, Aug 9 (IANS) Union Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Sanjay Seth on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Jharkhand government over the ongoing students’ protest in Ranchi and also criticised Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi for “not extending support” to the protesting students.
Seth visited the protest site at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi and expressed solidarity with the students. The students have been staging their protest continuously after alleged irregularities in the 14th Civil Services Preliminary Examination conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) came to light on July 2.
The demonstration entered its 16th day on Sunday with no signs of retreat, as the second round of talks between the protesting students and the state government once again failed to produce any breakthrough or agreement on their key demands.
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has said that every government should make efforts to bring changes to the education system.
Speaking to IANS at the protest site, Seth directly challenged Gandhi to visit Ranchi and meet the protesting students, questioning his absence from the agitation.
“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. There is no political benefit here because you are in government; you run wherever there are elections,” Seth said.
He further challenged the Congress leader, saying, “Rahul Gandhi, if you have even a little morality left, if you have any morality, I challenge you: if you have the courage, come to Ranchi. If he has the courage, he should sit outside the Chief Minister’s residence.”
Seth accused Gandhi of maintaining “double standards” by comparing the ongoing student protest in Ranchi with demonstrations held at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. He also reiterated that the BJP would continue to stand with the students and support their demands in the matter.
The Union Minister also targeted the Jharkhand government and the INDIA bloc, alleging that NSUI and JMM Yuva Morcha members were being brought into the protest in an attempt to “divide the students” and weaken their movement.
“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. Now, the way the British had used the policy of divide and rule, the state government is using divide and rule, approaching different organisations separately and putting up a drama,” Seth alleged.
Meanwhile, Jharkhand BJP President Aditya Sahu also criticised the state government, accusing it of “politicising” the issue instead of addressing the demands being raised by the protesting students.
Speaking to reporters, Sahu said, “The way our children in Jharkhand, our students, are shedding tears from their eyes, I feel that the government does not dare to understand the tears of these children. These are not just three children shedding tears; the tears of hundreds of students of this state are flowing.”
“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. Where were they for so many days? The students and the people of Jharkhand have understood this. Why do they have a problem with a CBI probe?” Sahu questioned.
Taking another swipe at Rahul Gandhi, the Jharkhand BJP chief alleged that the Congress leader had been vocal about student-related issues in Delhi but had not shown similar 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. If Rahul Gandhi has the courage, he should sit outside the Chief Minister’s residence just like he did outside the Prime Minister’s residence,” Sahu said.
–IANS
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