Congress MP K.C. Venugopal on Tuesday, 11 August accused the BJP-led Centre of attempting to deflect attention from the alleged police brutality against student protesters during the July 20 Parliament march in New Delhi, by raising the student agitation in Jharkhand. Speaking outside Parliament House, Venugopal said police action against students anywhere is condemnable — but insisted the two issues must not be conflated.

What Triggered the Standoff

Earlier in the day, NDA and Opposition MPs staged duelling protests outside Makar Dwar of Parliament. The ruling coalition accused the Opposition of 'selective' outrage over the Jharkhand student unrest, while the Opposition demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah appear in the House to answer questions on police action against protesting students — including the reported use of pellet guns — during the July 20 march. The NDA, in turn, charged the Opposition with stalling parliamentary proceedings.

What Congress Leaders Said

'Whenever a serious question is raised about the atrocities against students in Delhi, this is the response they give. Wherever there are attacks against students, we condemn them. But you cannot divert attention from the atrocities in Delhi by raising the Jharkhand issue,' Venugopal told reporters.

Congress MP Amar Singh echoed the position: 'Wherever there has been a lathi-charge, we will oppose and condemn it. We have condemned it, even if it is a partner government. We are not in favour of using force. Resolve the issue through dialogue.' Singh further alleged that the BJP-led government had deployed firearms — including AK-47s — against protesters in Bihar, a charge he contrasted with his party's stated opposition to force.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari added: 'We condemn any use of force against students, whether at Jantar Mantar or in Jharkhand.'

Rahul Gandhi's X Post on Jharkhand

The Congress position on Jharkhand had been set a day earlier when Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi posted on social media platform X condemning the police action against students protesting over alleged examination irregularities in the state. 'The use of force against students protesting in Jharkhand is wrong. Students have a right to peaceful protest, and only dialogue can yield solutions. The Jharkhand government must continue to hear these students out and resolve their issues immediately,' Gandhi wrote. Venugopal cited this post to argue that the Opposition had already acknowledged both incidents on their merits.

SP Backs JMM Government, Urges Restraint

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Pushpendra Saroj backed the JMM-led Jharkhand government while cautioning that a 'Jantar Mantar-like situation should not arise.' He noted that three resignations had already taken place and that a first round of discussions between officials and students had been held. 'Governments should listen to their students, irrespective of the party in power,' he said.

Saroj also pointed out that Chief Minister Hemant Soren's government was directly engaging with the agitating students, and that the Leader of the Opposition in Jharkhand had spoken openly on the matter. He added that the protesters' demand for a CBI probe into the alleged exam irregularities 'can only be fulfilled by the BJP-led Central government.'

What Happens Next

With Parliament already disrupted and both the Delhi police action and the Jharkhand student stir unresolved, the political temperature is likely to remain elevated. The Opposition's demand for Home Minister Shah's appearance in the House remains pending, and any further escalation in Jharkhand could widen the fault lines between the Centre and the state government.