BJP slams Rahul over police action on students in Ranchi
The BJP criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday over police action against protesting students in Ranchi, alleging that the Congress-led Opposition is unwilling to demand a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment examinations.
The remarks came as ruling NDA MPs staged a protest on the Parliament premises over alleged police action against protesting students in Ranchi. They carried placards that read “Jharkhand me chhatron par lathicharge par Rahul Gandhi jawab do” and “Jharkhand me chhatron par hue anyay par Rahul Gandhi jawab do”.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth demanded CBI and ED probes into the alleged irregularities.
“You may issue as many Tughlaq-style orders as you want, you may adopt as much of an authoritarian approach as you want, but a CBI inquiry and an ED inquiry will have to be conducted,” Seth said.
He alleged that the entire scam in Jharkhand is worth around Rs 400 crore.
“Whether it is through the TDPL, the JPSC or the JSSC, this is a scam worth hundreds of crores. The students are asking: who received a share of this money? Why are they not ordering a CBI investigation? Because people close to the chief minister and people associated with senior Congress leaders are caught up in this web.
“That is why, out of sheer obstinacy, they are not ordering a CBI investigation. They know that the JMM Government will be in jeopardy,” Seth alleged.
The Congress is part of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-led Government in the State.
Seth slammed Gandhi over the issue, alleging that the Congress leader lacks the courage to demand a probe in Jharkhand.
Seth claimed that the Jharkhand agitation is different from political protests in Delhi and is being led by students and youngsters.
“The Jharkhand movement is non-political. This is an agitation by students and youngsters. There is no politics behind it,” he said.
“We are public representatives, so naturally we will raise our voice,” Seth added.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader alleged that electricity supply at the protest site is being cut off at night and claimed that police have removed a generator set arranged by the students at their own expense.
“Last night, the electricity supply was cut off. Early this morning, the students had arranged a generator with their own money to ensure electricity supply, but police also removed that generator. This shows an authoritarian approach, a Tughlaq-style order,” he said.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey hit out at Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over the students’ protest in Ranchi and questioned why the party is not demanding a CBI probe now.
“Is a student in Delhi different from a student in Jharkhand? If Jharkhand is a backward region and Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge belong to an affluent region and an affluent party, they do not see Jharkhand’s backwardness, poverty or corruption. They should be ashamed of themselves. The way Jharkhand’s children are protesting on the streets and the way the Ranchi DC, SP, DGP and chief secretary are behaving, I have never seen such an authoritarian administration.
“The main accused, Dharmendra, was arrested from the residence of one of Jharkhand’s top officials. Why are they not willing to order a CBI probe?” Dubey asked.
The MP from Jharkhand’s Godda alleged that the investigation could reach senior functionaries of the state Government.
“The main accused was caught from the house of one of the seniormost officials. They know that if the investigation goes ahead, it will go from (Chief Minister) Hemant Soren to the chief secretary,” he alleged.
Dubey demanded that the Congress apologise over the issue and withdraw its support to the Jharkhand Government.
“They should apologise, withdraw support from the Government and show that they are with the people of Jharkhand. Otherwise, it will appear that they are working on George Soros’ agenda,” he said.
Dubey also attacked Gandhi, alleging that he appears wherever there is Opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Opposition to the country and communal tension.
“Wherever there is Opposition to Modi, wherever there is Opposition to the country, wherever there is communal tension, Rahul Gandhi and his party will be seen,” he said.
