Maharashtra Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashish Shelar on Monday, 12 October launched a sharp broadside against Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, branding his comments on the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) student protests as “childish” and accusing the Opposition of pursuing unconstitutional street politics.

What Shelar Said at the Mumbai Press Club

Speaking directly to reporters at the Mumbai Press Club, Shelar firmly rejected Gandhi's claim that the MPSC chairperson's decision to go on leave amounted to a victory for protesting students and their Satyagraha. “Gandhi’s comments are childish. We were also with the students; thus, it is also our victory,” Shelar declared, arguing that resolving candidate grievances was a collective priority, not a partisan achievement.

The minister contended that the Maharashtra government and its ruling alliance had stood consistently by the agitating aspirants, and that credit could not be claimed unilaterally by the Opposition.

Constitutional Avenues vs Street Politics

Shelar urged political leaders to respect established institutional procedures rather than incite public unrest. He argued that as Leader of the Opposition, Gandhi should channel concerns through legitimate mechanisms — floor debates in Parliament, legal petitions before the Supreme Court, or judicial review — rather than by staging street demonstrations.

Noting that legal matters related to MPSC are currently pending before courts, Shelar stressed that all parties must await judicial verdicts. Creating widespread agitation and “storming streets,” he warned, poses a serious threat to national stability and governance.

Shelar Invokes Ambedkar's 'Grammar of Anarchy'

To underscore his argument, Shelar invoked B. R. Ambedkar's historic final address to the Constituent Assembly on 25 November 1949. He recalled Ambedkar's stark warning about the “grammar of anarchy” — the danger of abandoning constitutional methods in favour of civil disobedience once democratic avenues are available.

Drawing a contrast with his own party's history, Shelar cited the BJP's decades in opposition, noting that while the party led major national movements over issues such as the Ram Temple, Jammu and Kashmir, and student rights, it consistently operated within institutional frameworks without “storming Parliament or invading the Prime Minister’s official residence.”

On Accusations of Authoritarianism

Addressing Opposition allegations of authoritarianism under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, Shelar pointed to large-scale public demonstrations — including sustained farmer protests — as proof that democratic freedoms remain active in India. He reiterated that political rivalries must be resolved through democratic dialogue, court rulings, and parliamentary debate, rather than by undermining public institutions.

Background: The MPSC Protest

The dispute centres on student protests against the MPSC over examination-related grievances, which gained fresh political momentum after the commission chairperson proceeded on leave. Rahul Gandhi had framed that development as a vindication of the students' Satyagraha — a characterisation Shelar's remarks were directly aimed at countering. This comes amid a broader pattern of the ruling alliance and the Opposition trading barbs over who genuinely champions Maharashtra's competitive examination aspirants.