Maharashtra's Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar on Tuesday, 11 August launched a sharp political offensive against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, demanding to know whether he would speak out against the lathi charge on students peacefully protesting in Ranchi against the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) paper leak and unemployment. The attack came amid growing outrage over the police crackdown on demonstrators seeking jobs and accountability in Jharkhand.

What Happened in Ranchi

Students in Ranchi had gathered in a disciplined, peaceful demonstration against the JPSC paper leak, raising demands for employment. According to Shelar, the protesters were met with barbed wire, tear gas, and a lathi charge — a response he described as 'extremely unfortunate' and beyond condemnation. The crackdown has drawn political fire from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is using the incident to press the Congress-backed Jharkhand government on accountability.

Shelar's Challenge to Rahul Gandhi

Shelar pointed out that the Congress, with 16 MLAs and four ministers, is a key partner in the ruling Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led coalition government headed by Chief Minister Hemant Soren. 'This government is not merely that of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. Rahul Gandhi is leading that government with 16 MLAs and four ministers. So, what stance will Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Hemant Soren take now? Have the opposition shut their ears to this?' Shelar asked. He accused Gandhi of showing 'false sympathy' in Delhi while failing to visit Jharkhand to stand with the affected students.

Hypocrisy Charge and Alliance Question

Shelar drew a pointed contrast between the opposition's visible engagement with protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and its silence on the Ranchi crackdown, calling it an exposure of 'double standards.' He also questioned why Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray had remained silent, and pressed whether the Congress would walk out of the Jharkhand ruling alliance in protest. He characterised the opposition's concern for students as 'Pootna Maushi's love' — insincere on the surface, harmful underneath — and demanded that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress tender an unconditional apology to the country's youth.

Parliament Angle and BJP's Position

Shelar extended his criticism to Parliament, accusing the opposition of disrupting proceedings through 'false statements and incorrect information.' He warned the opposition to brace for a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was expected to address the House. 'Do not run away; don't act cowardly,' Shelar said. The BJP, he asserted, stands firmly with the youth and students of Jharkhand.

Broader Context

The JPSC paper leak controversy has simmered in Jharkhand for weeks, with students demanding cancellation of the tainted examination and fresh recruitment. This is not the first time student agitations in opposition-ruled states have become flashpoints for national political sparring. Notably, the incident puts the Congress in an uncomfortable position — it must either defend its alliance partner's law-and-order record or publicly distance itself from the Soren government's response to the protests. Either path carries political cost ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.