When the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi, it was not only the Bharatiya Janata Party that was opposed to him, even the Cockroach Janata Party and its supporter the Aam Aadmi Party were not happy. Rahul had actually snatched away the initiative of the protesting students. Entire attention shifted from the Jantar Mantar to the Prime Minister’s residence. And this was a good thing to happen. Unlike the CJP, the Congress is a well-defined and well-organised political party. Nobody has any idea where the CJP has come from.
When the principal opposition party is staging the protest, the government at least knows whom to talk to. Moreover, unlike the unorganised mass of people that the CJP was trying to gather and rally around itself, it could always pose a serious law and order challenge as was evident on July 20 itself. The “peaceful” protestors went berserk, hurling and pelting stones on the police that eventually led to the lathicharge.
Of all the people and the parties, it was the Aam Aadmi Party which was opposed to Rahul Gandhi leading the protest outside the Prime Minister’s office. AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused Gandhi and the Congress of hijacking the students’ protest. Even Sonam Wangchuk’s wife Gitanjli also expressed strong reservations against Gandhi staging a protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence instead of joining the students at the Jantar Mantar.
The discomfiture among the AAP and CJP is understandable. Now the Congress, as the principal opposition party, has taken the lead in raising the students’ issues, particularly the paper leaks and widespread unemployment. CJP was merely seeking the resignation of the union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The Congress has widened the orbit, seeking Prime Minister’s apology, although Rahul had earlier demanded his resignation also, for lathicharge on the students.
Also read: Punjab poses tough challenge to Congress ahead of 2027
The Congress has always been apprehensive of the CJP leaders’ credentials. There is a strong suspicion that the CJP protests were sponsored by the government only to give “controlled vent” to the Gen Z. That is the reason the Congress remained guarded in its support to the CJP. Even today the Congress has been supporting the students without mentioning any names.
At the same time, to ensure that the student/ Gen Z space is not grabbed by the CJP or its likes, the Congress has launched its own nationwide campaign, ‘Chhatron ki Goonj’ (Echo of the Students). Rahul Gandhi has so far addressed conventions in Kota in Rajasthan and Dehradun which drew considerable student participation.
It is after a long time that the Congress has taken aggressive lead on an issue, which it feels, is resonating among the youth of the country. However, the paper leaks have not happened since 2014 only. Paper leaks have a long history and these have taken place in non-BJP ruled states also. Even in Punjab under the AAP rule, at least four paper leaks have taken place. Whether it should be the minister who should be held responsible for such leaks is a million dollar question.
Given the enormity of the responsibility the ministers hold, should they be held accountable for the faults of the junior most staff. The government has already ordered an inquiry. People responsible for the paper leak have already been jailed.
The government of India is well within its right and authority not to succumb to the mob pressure and sack the education minister. It will set a wrong and dangerous precedent. With such a vast country with 1.45 billion people, such things are natural to happen. Punish the actual guilty and not make political capital out of it.
Follow us
