Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Rathore accuses opposition of using 'hired goons' in paper leak protests
Synopsis
Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore has turned the paper leak protests into a political battleground, alleging that the Congress deployed outsiders and ‘hired goons’ rather than students — a claim the opposition flatly denies. With the BJP marching to the Congress state office and counter-allegations flying over Gehlot-era leaks, this is no longer just about exam fraud; it is a full-scale political proxy war.
Key Takeaways
Madan Rathore , Rajasthan BJP president, on 22 July alleged the opposition used ‘hired goons’ from outside the state in paper leak protests in Jaipur .
Rathore claimed none of the individuals hospitalised after the protests were students — an assertion not independently verified.
The BJP march began at the party’s state headquarters and proceeded toward the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office.
Rathore defended Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and alleged investigations into protest funding are underway.
He alleged multiple paper leaks occurred under former CM Ashok Gehlot and questioned why Gehlot and Govind Singh Dotasra did not resign.
The Congress has rejected all BJP allegations, accusing the ruling party of deflecting from genuine student grievances.
Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Madan Rathore on Wednesday, 22 July alleged that the opposition deployed “hired goons” during protests over the alleged examination paper leak issue, describing the agitation as a “well-planned political conspiracy” rather than a genuine students’ movement. Rathore made the remarks at a BJP protest march in Jaipur, organised in response to Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s recent demonstration outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi.
The Protest March
The BJP’s statewide demonstration, led by Rathore, commenced at the party’s state headquarters and proceeded toward the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office. The march drew party leaders, women workers, youth activists, and BJP supporters, who raised slogans against the Indian National Congress (Congress) and LoP Rahul Gandhi. BJP State General Secretary (Organisation) Ajey Kumar subsequently thanked participants, alleging the opposition was violating democratic norms for political gain.
Key Allegations Against the Opposition
Rathore alleged that the Congress had brought in “hired goons” from outside Rajasthan to create disturbances and engage in stone-pelting during the agitation. He further claimed that inquiries into those admitted to hospitals following the protests revealed that none of the injured persons were students — an assertion that has not been independently verified. Rathore also alleged that anti-national slogans were raised during the protests, a claim likewise without independent corroboration.
He accused the opposition of exploiting student concerns for political purposes and said demonstrations outside the Prime Minister’s residence were inconsistent with parliamentary traditions. Rathore additionally condemned what he described as alleged misbehaviour with women journalists during the protests.
Defence of Education Minister and Attack on Previous Govt
Rathore defended Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan against opposition demands for his resignation, crediting him with implementing reforms under the National Education Policy and promoting greater emphasis on Indian history and culture in school curricula. He alleged the opposition was targeting Pradhan specifically because of these reforms.
Turning the tables, Rathore targeted the previous Congress government in Rajasthan, alleging that multiple paper leak incidents occurred during former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s tenure. He questioned why Gehlot and former Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra had not resigned over those cases. He did not provide evidence to support these claims, according to reports.
Congress Rejects BJP Charges
The Congress has rejected the BJP’s allegations in their entirety, accusing the ruling party of attempting to divert attention from genuine student concerns and examination irregularities. The opposition maintains that its protests were legitimate and student-driven, directly contradicting Rathore’s characterisation of the agitation.
Rathore stated that investigations were underway into the funding of recent protests and those allegedly involved in violence, though no evidence was presented publicly. As political temperatures rise over the paper leak controversy, the dispute reflects a broader national battle between the BJP and Congress over accountability in public examinations.
Point of View
Spare the minister, and pivot to the opponent’s record. But the strategy carries risk: the paper leak controversy has genuine student anger behind it, and unverified hospital claims are easy to fact-check. The BJP’s simultaneous defence of Dharmendra Pradhan and attack on Gehlot-era leaks suggests the party is fighting on two fronts it did not choose. The Congress, for its part, benefits from keeping the focus on examination irregularities rather than protest conduct. How the investigation into alleged protest funding unfolds — if it unfolds at all — will determine whether Rathore’s narrative gains traction or backfires.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rajasthan BJP president Madan Rathore allege about the paper leak protests?
Rathore alleged on 22 July that the Congress deployed ‘hired goons’ from outside Rajasthan to create disturbances during protests over the alleged paper leak issue, calling the agitation a ‘well-planned political conspiracy’ rather than a genuine student movement. He also claimed that none of the hospitalised individuals were students, though this has not been independently verified.
Why did the BJP organise a protest march in Jaipur on 22 July?
The BJP march was organised to counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s demonstration outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence in New Delhi and to protest the opposition’s agitation over alleged examination irregularities. The march proceeded from the BJP state headquarters to the Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee office.
How has the Congress responded to the BJP’s allegations?
The Congress has rejected all of the BJP’s allegations, accusing the ruling party of attempting to divert attention from legitimate student concerns and examination irregularities. It maintains that its protests were genuine and student-led.
What did Rathore say about Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan?
Rathore defended Pradhan against opposition calls for his resignation, crediting him with implementing education reforms under the National Education Policy and promoting Indian history and culture in school curricula. He alleged the opposition was targeting Pradhan because of these specific reforms.
Did Rathore raise past paper leaks under the Congress government in Rajasthan?
Yes. Rathore alleged that multiple paper leak incidents occurred during former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s tenure and questioned why Gehlot and former Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasra had not resigned over those cases. He did not provide public evidence to support these claims.
