Nadda slams Rahul Gandhi's Delhi police station dharna as 'cheap politics'
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi's sit-in outside a Delhi police station demanding an FIR over alleged pellet-gun use against NEET protesters drew a blistering counter from BJP chief J.P. Nadda, who pointed to a Supreme Court-constituted five-member panel already probing the 20 July incident — and accused Gandhi of staging the protest purely for camera time, not justice.
Key Takeaways
Nadda on 21 August called Rahul Gandhi's dharna outside Parliament Street Police Station 'cheap and diversionary politics.' Rahul Gandhi demanded an FIR over the alleged use of pellet guns by Delhi Police against students during the 20 July Jantar Mantar NEET protests.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the sit-in.
Nadda noted the Supreme Court had already constituted a five-member high-powered committee under a former judge to probe the incident.
The DCP reportedly assured Rahul Gandhi that all Jantar Mantar protest-related matters were under investigation.
Nadda alleged the protest was timed to divert attention from a separate Vande Mataram controversy surrounding the Congress party.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Union Minister J.P. Nadda on Friday, 21 August sharply criticised Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi for staging a dharna outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police at Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi, calling the protest an act of political theatre driven by a 'hunger for footage' rather than genuine concern for students.
What Prompted the Dharna
Rahul Gandhi began his sit-in mid-morning outside the DCP's office at Parliament Street Police Station, demanding that Delhi Police register an FIR over the alleged use of pellet guns against students during the 20 July protests at Jantar Mantar. Those demonstrations had erupted over alleged irregularities in the NEET paper, and at least one student reportedly suffered pellet-gun injuries during the police response. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also joined the sit-in as it continued through the day.
What Nadda Said
Addressing reporters, Nadda described the protest as 'cheap and diversionary politics.' 'Today, the entire country is once again witnessing Rahul Gandhi's cheap and diversionary politics, as demonstrated by his protest outside Parliament Street Police Station. Rahul Gandhi's dharna today is neither for the students nor for justice. It is a symbol of the Congress party's political frustration and Rahul Gandhi's hunger for footage,' Nadda claimed.
The BJP President pointed out that the Supreme Court had already taken cognisance of the 20 July incident and constituted a five-member high-powered committee under the chairmanship of a former judge to examine the matter. 'When the country's highest court is investigating the matter, what is Rahul Gandhi trying to prove by sitting outside a police station in front of cameras? Does the Leader of the Opposition not have faith in the country's judiciary?' Nadda asked.
The DCP Assurance Angle
Nadda alleged that when Rahul Gandhi arrived at the DCP's office, he was informed that police were already investigating all matters related to the Jantar Mantar protest, and the DCP had assured him that the issues raised were under examination. 'Despite all this, he is sitting on a dharna. This shows his stubbornness and frustration. This shows that he does not want to deliver justice to anyone; he just wants to create an uproar,' Nadda added.
The 'Vande Mataram' Controversy Link
The BJP President also questioned the timing of the protest, alleging that Congress was attempting to divert public attention from a separate controversy involving the national song. 'Today the Congress party is surrounded from all sides on the issue of Vande Mataram. A senior Congress leader has been seen cutting a Tricolour-themed cake. To hide this anti-national face and divert attention from the embarrassment, Rahul Gandhi has hastily created this new diversionary drama,' Nadda alleged. Congress has not publicly responded to these specific allegations as of the time of this report.
Background and What Comes Next
The 20 July student protests at Jantar Mantar were among the most visible demonstrations tied to the NEET paper-leak controversy that shook India's medical entrance examination system. The Supreme Court's five-member committee is expected to submit its findings, and its conclusions could determine whether further police action or FIRs follow. The political standoff between the BJP and Congress over the episode is likely to intensify as the committee's deadline approaches.
Point of View
But it does not address why Delhi Police has not registered the FIR a student complainant sought. That procedural gap is what Gandhi's dharna is built on, and it remains unanswered in Nadda's rebuttal. The Vande Mataram angle, tacked on at the end, signals the BJP is fighting on multiple fronts and is keen to keep Congress on the defensive. Whether the Supreme Court panel's eventual findings vindicate or embarrass the police will determine which side of this argument ages better.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Rahul Gandhi stage a dharna outside Parliament Street Police Station?
Rahul Gandhi held a sit-in outside the DCP's office at Parliament Street Police Station on 21 August to demand that Delhi Police register an FIR over the alleged use of pellet guns against students during the 20 July Jantar Mantar protests over the NEET paper-leak controversy. At least one student reportedly suffered pellet-gun injuries during that demonstration.
What did J.P. Nadda say about Rahul Gandhi's protest?
BJP President J.P. Nadda called the dharna 'cheap and diversionary politics,' alleging it was motivated by a 'hunger for footage' rather than concern for students. He pointed out that the Supreme Court had already constituted a five-member high-powered committee under a former judge to probe the 20 July incident.
Has the Supreme Court taken up the 20 July pellet-gun incident?
Yes. According to Nadda, the Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the 20 July incident and constituted a five-member high-powered committee chaired by a former judge to examine the matter. The committee's findings are awaited.
Who else joined Rahul Gandhi's dharna?
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra joined Rahul Gandhi during the sit-in outside the DCP's office at Parliament Street Police Station on 21 August.
What is the Vande Mataram controversy Nadda referred to?
Nadda alleged that a senior Congress leader was seen cutting a Tricolour-themed cake, which he framed as an insult to the national song Vande Mataram. He claimed Rahul Gandhi's dharna was timed to divert public attention from this controversy, an allegation Congress had not publicly addressed at the time of this report.
