Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's decision to extend support to the ongoing JPSC-JSSC aspirants' protest in Jharkhand has sparked a sharp political exchange, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, 7 August accusing him and the Indian National Congress of practising 'politics of convenience.' The Congress hit back, asserting that Gandhi was the first national leader to raise the issue of paper leaks.

BJP's Charge: Too Little, Too Late

BJP Bihar President Sanjay Saraogi questioned why Gandhi had taken so long to acknowledge the agitation. 'He remembered Jharkhand so quickly. The Congress has four ministers in the Jharkhand government, but has even one of them gone to meet the students? If Rahul Gandhi were serious about the issue, he would have pressured Chief Minister Hemant Soren to order a CBI investigation,' Saraogi said.

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo went further, alleging that Gandhi's response was driven by political calculation rather than genuine concern. 'Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party have been exposed. They practise politics of convenience. Their attitude towards students and protests changes depending on which state is involved,' Shahdeo claimed.

Shahdeo also noted that protesting students had been seeking Gandhi's intervention for nearly two weeks. 'For the last 13 to 14 days, students have been asking when Rahul Gandhi would come. He did not respond during that period. Now, after all these days, he has released a video message and spoken to students. People do not want virtual support; they want leaders to come to the ground and stand with them,' he said.

Brij Bhushan and JD(U) Echo the Criticism

BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, while welcoming Gandhi's outreach to students, described the timing as overdue. 'I welcome Rahul Gandhi's decision to interact with the students, but he has done it very late. This should have happened a year or two ago,' Singh said.

Janata Dal (United) National Spokesperson Rajiv Ranjan Prasad also questioned the delay. 'The first question is why they woke up from their deep slumber only on the 14th day of the protest. The students have consistently and peacefully raised their demands. They have repeatedly said that jobs are not being awarded on the basis of merit and qualifications, and that candidates have to pay a heavy price for opportunities,' Prasad said.

Congress Pushes Back

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said the party was committed to resolving the students' concerns. 'We are ready to address the genuine problems of the students and hold discussions with them. Regarding the ongoing protest in Ranchi, a group comprising four ministers and student representatives has been formed, and talks will be held soon to resolve their issues,' he said.

Congress leader Husain Dalwai invoked the party's nationwide 'Chhatron ki Goonj' campaign against paper leaks to defend Gandhi's credentials on the issue. 'In fact, Rahul Gandhi was the first to raise this issue, and he has been consistently working on it. Wherever there is something wrong, he speaks about it. It doesn't matter whose government is in power — even if it is our own government, he will continue to point it out and try to make them understand,' Dalwai said.

Student Leaders Call for Cross-Party Unity

Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto welcomed support from all political parties and stressed that the movement went beyond partisan lines. 'This support should come from everyone because this is a protest by aggrieved students. Whether it is the BJP, Congress, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, or any other party, all should support the students. Students belong to every family. This movement is against the growing problem of paper leaks in Jharkhand,' Mahto said.

The political skirmish reflects a broader national pattern in which competitive examination irregularities have become a flashpoint, with opposition parties and ruling coalitions trading accusations over accountability. With the Jharkhand government — a Congress-JMM coalition — under direct pressure from the agitation, the coming days will test whether political statements translate into concrete action on the ground.