JP Nadda in Rajya Sabha: Student activists should face police, I did during Emergency
Synopsis
Rajya Sabha erupted after Delhi Police allegedly entered CPI(M)'s national headquarters to arrest former JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh over cases dating to 2020–21. Leader of the House JP Nadda's response — that student activists should expect police action, just as he faced during the Emergency — turned a law-and-order dispute into a flashpoint over civil liberties and the boundaries of political dissent.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police allegedly entered the CPI(M) national headquarters on Tuesday, 29 July to arrest student leader Aishe Ghosh , former JNUSU president.
Officers reportedly cited pending cases from 2020–21 ; Ghosh's alleged trigger was participation in a protest at Jantar Mantar .
CPI(M) MP John Brittas alleged the operation was conducted without prior information to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge called the police action 'very shameful' and demanded punishment of the officers involved.
Leader of the House J.P.
Nadda defended the action as 'normal law and order activity,' drawing on his own arrest during the Emergency .
The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon amid sustained opposition sloganeering.
Rajya Sabha Leader of the House J.P. Nadda sparked a sharp uproar on Wednesday, 29 July, declaring that student activists who choose to engage in activism must be prepared to face police action — invoking his own arrest during the Emergency as precedent. The remarks came as opposition members raised an alarm over Delhi Police personnel allegedly entering the national headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to detain student leader Aishe Ghosh.
What Triggered the Uproar
CPI(M) member John Brittas brought the matter to the House's attention, alleging that police had 'barged into a national political party office' to arrest Aishe Ghosh, a former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU). According to Brittas, Ghosh's only alleged offence was participation in a student protest at Jantar Mantar. When questioned, the officers reportedly cited pending cases from 2020–21.
Brittas also flagged that the operation was conducted without prior information to Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan. 'What do they want — to send fear? I want the Home Minister to tell us what happened,' he said in the House.
Kharge Calls It 'Very Shameful'
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge seconded the concern, describing it as 'very shameful that police barge into a national party office and try to arrest a leader.' He demanded that the officers involved be held accountable and punished. Opposition members continued sloganeering and pressed for action against the police personnel.
Nadda's Response and the Emergency Reference
Responding to the opposition, Nadda said he himself had been a student leader and was arrested during the Emergency. 'It is normal law and order activity which the police have to take,' he remarked. He added: 'Any student who wants to do activism should face police; even I faced many times during the Emergency.' The remarks immediately triggered further uproar, with opposition voices drowning out other speakers.
House Adjourned Amid Disruption
As opposition members persisted with slogans, BJP (Tripura) member Rajib Bhattacharjee was unable to make his scheduled statement. Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan subsequently adjourned the House till noon. This comes amid a broader pattern of Rajya Sabha sessions being disrupted over law enforcement controversies, underscoring the deepening friction between the ruling coalition and opposition parties over civil liberties and police conduct.
Point of View
Making it an unusual benchmark to cite in defence of police conduct. The CPI(M) office entry — without apparent prior notice to the Rajya Sabha Chair — raises a procedural question distinct from the underlying criminal cases, one the government did not directly address. Aishe Ghosh's cases reportedly date to 2020–21, raising questions about the timing of enforcement. The episode reflects a recurring tension in Indian parliamentary democracy: where the line falls between legitimate law enforcement and political intimidation of opposition-linked activists.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Delhi Police enter the CPI(M) office?
Delhi Police personnel allegedly entered the CPI(M) national headquarters in New Delhi to arrest student leader Aishe Ghosh, a former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union. Officers reportedly cited pending cases from 2020–21 when questioned, according to statements made in the Rajya Sabha.
Who is Aishe Ghosh and why was she targeted?
Aishe Ghosh is a student activist and former president of the JNUSU. According to CPI(M) MP John Brittas, her only alleged recent offence was participation in a student protest at Jantar Mantar, though police cited older pending cases from 2020–21 as the basis for the action.
What did JP Nadda say about student activism and police?
Nadda, as Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, said the police action was 'normal law and order activity' and stated that any student who chooses activism should be prepared to face police — adding that he himself was arrested multiple times during the Emergency. His remarks triggered immediate uproar from opposition members.
What did the opposition demand in the Rajya Sabha?
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge called the police action 'very shameful' and demanded that the officers involved be punished. CPI(M) MP John Brittas also called for Home Minister accountability, questioning why the operation was carried out without informing Rajya Sabha Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan.
What happened in the Rajya Sabha after Nadda's remarks?
Nadda's statement triggered sustained sloganeering and disruption from opposition members, preventing BJP (Tripura) MP Rajib Bhattacharjee from making a scheduled statement. Chairman C.P. Radhakrishnan subsequently adjourned the House till noon.
