Eknath Shinde accuses Congress of political stunts amid student protests
Synopsis
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, fresh from a meeting with PM Modi, accused Congress of hijacking student protests for political gain — and turned the tables by defending Amit Shah's record on Article 370, Naxalism, and cross-border terror. With the government signalling openness to debate and the opposition camped outside Parliament, the standoff over the student agitation has become a proxy battle for the broader INDIA bloc versus NDA contest.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on 7 August for an hour-long discussion on multiple issues.
Shinde accused Congress of staging demonstrations outside Parliament demanding Home Minister Amit Shah 's resignation under the guise of student protests.
Former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned accepting moral responsibility after the Jantar Mantar protest, after which the agitation reportedly concluded.
Shinde called on all parties to support the women's reservation bill and said constituency delimitation requires bipartisan cooperation.
Shiv Sena 's legislative strength grew from 40 to 60 MLAs after elections, Shinde noted, while addressing the ongoing Supreme Court dispute over the party name and symbol.
PM Modi hosted newly elected Shiv Sena MPs for breakfast, urging them to focus on constituency development.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday, 7 August accused the Congress of exploiting student protests for political theatre, alleging the opposition party staged demonstrations outside Parliament demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation under the cover of the student agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Shinde made the remarks after an hour-long meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the latter's residence in Delhi.
Pradhan's Resignation and Protest Outcome
Shinde noted that former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had resigned accepting moral responsibility following the Jantar Mantar protest. He argued that the resignation brought the student agitation to a close, with students returning to their regular schedules. Prime Minister Modi also directly engaged with the protesting youth, a gesture Shinde described as a mark of respect for the country's future generation.
Government Ready for Debate, Says Shinde
'Rather than political stunts, the Opposition should enter the House and debate with the Union government, which remains fully open to discussion,' Deputy CM Shinde said, criticising the Opposition INDIA bloc for avoiding parliamentary proceedings. He contended that while the Centre has consistently signalled readiness for debate, opposition parties have preferred public demonstrations over legislative engagement.
Shinde also took a pointed swipe at Congress over its demand for Amit Shah's resignation, asking rhetorically whether the party was targeting the Home Minister because he eradicated Naxalism, abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and dismantled Pakistan-sponsored terrorism networks. 'Union Home Minister Shah does not need lessons in patriotism from anyone else,' he added.
Call for Bipartisan Support on Key Legislation
Beyond the protest row, Deputy CM Shinde urged all political parties to back critical legislation, specifically citing the women's reservation bill. He stressed that constituency delimitation is a pressing national requirement and called for bipartisan cooperation to deliver justice to citizens without partisan considerations.
Shiv Sena-UBT Supreme Court Battle
Shinde also addressed the ongoing Supreme Court hearing over the Shiv Sena party name and symbol dispute with the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. He noted that former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had previously clarified that the MahaYuti government's formation was 'not unconstitutional'. Reiterating faith in the judiciary, he refrained from elaborating further on the sub-judice matter, but observed that Shiv Sena's legislative strength had grown from 40 to 60 MLAs following the elections.
Earlier on Friday morning, Prime Minister Modi hosted newly elected Shiv Sena MPs for breakfast, reportedly telling them: 'Do not worry; focus on development works in your constituencies.' The meeting signals continued coordination between the Shiv Sena leadership and the Centre ahead of the ongoing parliamentary session.
Point of View
But it also signals that the protests carried enough political weight to extract a ministerial scalp. Notably, the demand for Amit Shah's resignation — which Shinde ridicules — has become a recurring INDIA bloc pressure point, and the government's 'ready for debate' posture is itself a political move designed to put the onus of disruption on the opposition. The Shiv Sena-UBT Supreme Court battle lurking in the background adds another layer: Shinde's confidence on the legal front is calibrated, but the dispute over the party's identity remains unresolved and politically live.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Eknath Shinde accuse Congress of political stunts?
Shinde alleged that Congress staged demonstrations outside Parliament demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation while using the student protest at Jantar Mantar as political cover. He argued the opposition was avoiding parliamentary debate in favour of public grandstanding.
Why did Dharmendra Pradhan resign?
Former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned accepting moral responsibility following the student protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. According to Shinde, the resignation brought the agitation to a close and students returned to their routine.
What is the government's position on parliamentary debate?
Deputy CM Shinde stated that the Union government is fully ready for debate in Parliament and urged opposition parties to engage inside the House rather than conduct demonstrations outside. He said the Centre remains open to discussion on all issues.
What did PM Modi tell newly elected Shiv Sena MPs?
Prime Minister Modi hosted newly elected Shiv Sena MPs for breakfast on Friday morning and reportedly told them: 'Do not worry; focus on development works in your constituencies.' The meeting underscored continued coordination between the Shiv Sena leadership and the Centre.
What is the Shiv Sena-UBT Supreme Court dispute about?
The Supreme Court is hearing a dispute between Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) over the party's name and election symbol. Shinde cited former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud's earlier observation that the MahaYuti government's formation was 'not unconstitutional', and said Shiv Sena's strength has grown from 40 to 60 MLAs since the elections.
