BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over Jantar Mantar absence, flags INDIA bloc credit war
Synopsis
The BJP's broadside against Rahul Gandhi over the Jantar Mantar student protests is as much about the INDIA bloc's internal fractures as it is about Congress. With AAP and Congress publicly accusing each other of hijacking the NEET agitation, the Opposition's united front on a high-visibility student issue has visibly cracked — and the BJP is making sure voters notice.
Key Takeaways
The BJP on 22 July accused Rahul Gandhi and Congress of 'vulture politics' over their late entry into Jantar Mantar student protests against exam paper leaks.
BJP leader Rohan Gupta alleged Congress staged a rival protest near PM Modi's residence solely to claim political credit.
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said the AAP accused Congress of 'hijacking' the student issue, while Congress leaders hit back at AAP.
According to Poonawalla, the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal sided with Congress, while Shiv Sena-UBT and some allies reportedly leaned toward AAP.
The BJP alleged the INDIA bloc has effectively split into two factions over the student protest credit war.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, 22 July launched a sharp attack on Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, questioning his absence from student protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and accusing the party of staging a rival sit-in near Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence purely to claim political credit. The BJP simultaneously alleged that a 'credit war' has fractured the INDIA bloc, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress publicly accusing each other of hijacking the students' agitation over exam paper leaks.
BJP's 'Vulture Politics' Charge
BJP leader Rohan Gupta accused Congress of exploiting the student movement after remaining absent for days. 'What we saw yesterday was an example of vulture politics. Students had been protesting at Jantar Mantar for several days, but Rahul Gandhi was nowhere to be seen, nor was any Congress leader. It seemed they were away on a picnic. But when they felt the issue had political potential and could be exploited, Rahul Gandhi joined the protest yesterday to further his politics,' Gupta said.
Gupta reiterated that Congress has a pattern of arriving late to public agitations — pointing to the farmers' protest and the wrestlers' agitation as prior instances. 'Till when will the Congress continue with its vulture politics and taking others' credit?' he asked.
Poonawalla Flags INDIA Bloc Fault Lines
BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla argued that the Congress protest on Tuesday exposed deep divisions within the Opposition alliance. He cited AAP's public accusation that Congress had 'hijacked' its issue, while Congress leaders responded with their own criticism of AAP.
'The so-called sympathy they are showing towards students has exposed the divisions within the INDIA bloc. Yesterday, the Aam Aadmi Party accused the Congress of hijacking its issue, while Congress leaders criticised the AAP. The Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal have sided with the Congress, whereas it appears that Shiv Sena-UBT and a few other INDIA bloc allies are leaning towards the AAP,' Poonawalla said.
He added: 'This proves that the INDIA bloc has divided into two, due to this credit war. However, both factions of this bloc do not want any discussion on the NEET issue in Parliament and instead want to politicise the students' issue and generate hatred.'
The NEET Backdrop
The protests at Jantar Mantar were originally led by students demanding accountability over alleged exam paper leaks linked to the NEET examination. The agitation drew cross-party attention as Parliament was in session, amplifying its political salience. This is not the first time competing Opposition factions have clashed over ownership of a street movement — similar tensions surfaced during the farmers' protest and the wrestlers' agitation.
Government's Position
The BJP maintained that the Union government has heard the students' concerns and will take appropriate action. The party sought to contrast what it described as the Centre's 'sympathetic' stance with what it characterised as the Opposition's opportunistic posturing. No specific policy announcement was made alongside the political criticism.
With Parliament in session and the NEET controversy still unresolved, the political contest over student protest optics is likely to intensify in the coming days.
Point of View
Student-facing issue like NEET reveals that the alliance lacks a shared command structure beyond electoral arithmetic. If AAP and Congress cannot agree on who leads a street protest, questions about who leads the bloc in a future coalition government become harder to dismiss. The BJP's real gain here is not the attack on Rahul Gandhi — it is the footage of Opposition leaders attacking each other.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the BJP criticising Rahul Gandhi over the Jantar Mantar protests?
The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of being absent from the student protests at Jantar Mantar for several days before joining them, alleging he arrived only when the issue gained political traction. BJP leader Rohan Gupta called this 'vulture politics', claiming Congress was more interested in claiming credit than supporting students.
What is the 'credit war' within the INDIA bloc over the NEET protests?
The AAP publicly accused Congress of hijacking its student agitation over NEET exam paper leaks, while Congress leaders in turn criticised AAP. BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said this has effectively split the INDIA bloc, with the Samajwadi Party and RJD siding with Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT reportedly leaning toward AAP.
What are students protesting at Jantar Mantar?
Students gathered at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to demand accountability over alleged paper leaks in the NEET examination. The protests drew cross-party political attention, particularly as Parliament was in session at the time.
What is the government's response to the student protests?
The BJP maintained that the Union government is 'sympathetic' to students' concerns and will take required action. However, no specific policy announcement was made alongside the party's political criticism of the Opposition.
How does this compare to past Opposition protest disputes?
BJP leader Rohan Gupta pointed to similar patterns during the farmers' protest and the wrestlers' agitation, alleging Congress repeatedly arrives late to public movements to capitalise on their momentum. The current NEET-linked split mirrors those earlier tensions within and around the Opposition.
