Parliament turns Jantar Mantar as BJP, Opposition stage protests metres apart
At Makar Dwar outside Parliament on Tuesday, Opposition MPs and NDA lawmakers stood facing each other across a line of security personnel, raising slogans and
At Makar Dwar outside Parliament on Tuesday, Opposition MPs and NDA lawmakers stood facing each other across a line of security personnel, raising slogans and holding up competing placards. The security staff had their arms linked to keep the two groups apart, turning the space between them into a physical divide as the rival protests continued. The visuals were striking because both sides had effectively chosen the same spot to make their case. The Opposition had gathered with its demands directed at the government, while the NDA MPs had arrived with banners targeting Rahul Gandhi. The two groups stood within sight of each other, with security personnel holding the line between them. Read Full Story The Opposition was demanding that Home Minister Amit Shah respond in Parliament to the police action against students during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar. It was also seeking a discussion on allegations concerning donations collected for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. The NDA MPs had a counter-protest of their own. Their focus was the police action against student protesters in Jharkhand, and their criticism was directed at Rahul Gandhi. One of the banners carried by the BJP side read: “Jharkhand mei chatro pe lathi charge pe Rahul Gandhi jawab do” — asking Gandhi to answer for the lathi charge on students. The Jharkhand protest involved students and job aspirants demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission.
On Monday, protesters marched towards the Jharkhand Assembly in Ranchi and were dispersed by police using tear gas, batons and water cannons. Reuters reported that the protest had been building since July 25 and that some protesters attempted to breach barricades. Rahul Gandhi had already criticised the use of force against the students. In a post on X on Monday, he said the use of force against peaceful protesters was wrong and urged the Jharkhand government to continue engaging with the students and resolve their concerns. That statement became part of the BJP's counterattack. BJP MP Anurag Thakur accused Gandhi of double standards and said the protesting youth of Jharkhand deserved justice. The BJP's argument was that Gandhi was demanding accountability over police action against students in Delhi while the Congress is part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand. The exchange became more pointed when Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived at Makar Dwar. BJP MP Mukesh Dalal was raising slogans against Rahul Gandhi when Priyanka walked past. Dalal shouted, “Sharm karo, sharm karo, Rahul Gandhi, sharm karo.” Priyanka responded that Rahul Gandhi had already met the protesting students in Jharkhand. Dalal then told her: “Go to Jharkhand. Why have you not gone to Jharkhand?” Priyanka continued walking and joined the Opposition MPs. The exchange was captured on video while the two groups continued their separate demonstrations on either side of the security cordon. Priyanka later said the Opposition had effectively forced the government MPs to stage their own protest.
The BriefWire