New Delhi, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A political slugfest erupted on Friday after Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi extended support to the ongoing protest by JPSC-JSSC aspirants in Jharkhand, with the BJP accusing him and the Congress of “politics of convenience” while the Congress said Gandhi was among the first leaders to raise concerns over paper leaks.
BJP Bihar President Sanjay Saraogi questioned the Congress leadership’s response to the students’ agitation, alleging that Rahul Gandhi intervened only after the protest gained momentum.
“He remembered Jharkhand so quickly. The Congress has four ministers in the Jharkhand government, but has even one of them gone to meet the students? If Rahul Gandhi were serious about the issue, he would have pressured Chief Minister Hemant Soren to order a CBI investigation,” Saraogi told IANS.
He alleged that the Congress frequently uses student issues for political purposes and urged the party leadership to push for a probe into the matter.
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo also accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of adopting a selective approach towards student protests.
“Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party have been exposed. They practise politics of convenience. Their attitude towards students and protests changes depending on which state is involved,” Shahdeo claimed.
He said students had been seeking Rahul Gandhi’s intervention for nearly two weeks and argued that they wanted leaders to physically join their movement rather than extend only virtual support.
BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh welcomed Gandhi’s interaction with the students but said it came late. “I welcome Rahul Gandhi’s decision to interact with the students, but he has done it very late. This should have happened a year or two ago,” he said.
JD(U) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also questioned the timing of Gandhi’s intervention, alleging that students had been peacefully raising concerns over recruitment and examination-related issues for a long time.
Responding to the BJP’s criticism, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said the party remained committed to addressing students’ concerns. He said a committee comprising four ministers and student representatives had been formed to hold discussions and work towards resolving the issues raised by the protesters.
Congress leader Husain Dalwai said Rahul Gandhi had consistently raised the issue of paper leaks through the party’s nationwide ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign.
“In fact, Rahul Gandhi was the first to raise this issue, and he has been consistently working on it. Wherever there is something wrong, he speaks about it. It doesn’t matter whose government is in power—even if it is our own government, he will continue to point it out,” Dalwai said.
Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto welcomed support from all political parties, saying the movement was above political affiliations.
“This support should come from everyone because this is a protest by aggrieved students. Whether it is the BJP, Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, or any other party, all should support the students. This movement is against the growing problem of paper leaks in Jharkhand,” Mahto said.
The JPSC-JSSC aspirants have been protesting over their demands related to recruitment processes and alleged irregularities in examinations.
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