Ranchi protests: Shiv Sena targets Rahul Gandhi, questions 'silence' of some sections

Mumbai: The police action against job aspirants in Ranchi came under severe criticism from Shiv Sena, with party leaders accusing Rahul Gandhi of pursuing a political agenda in the name of students and questioning the purported bias of some MPs, celebrities and activists against the NDA.

The remarks come after police in Ranchi used water cannons, lobbed tear gas shells, and lathi-charged job aspirants as they breached barricades and attempted to reach the state assembly, protesting the alleged recruitment exam irregularities.

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday alleged Rahul Gandhi never held a dialogue with protesters in Jharkhand, where demonstrations have been staged for the last two weeks, but people are baton-charged.


"Rahul Gandhi is doing politics in the name of students. He has not engaged with (protesting) students. If he is really concerned about the issues of the students, then he should resolve it," Nirupam added.

He claimed that neither the opposition leader in the Lok Sabha visited Ranchi nor has the Congress (which is part of the Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand) issued any statement on the protests by students.

Referring to Jharkhand protests, Nirupam's party colleague and MP Milind Deora questioned "selective outrage", which he said depends on who is in power and where the paper leak happens.

"Are MPs, celebs & activists protesting, making reels, tweeting & organising event-managed student interactions to demand resignations over the #Jharkhand paper leak? When outrage depends on who's in power & where the leak happens, are we really doing justice to India's youth," Deora said in a post on X.

The agitators are demanding comprehensive reforms in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC).

They are also seeking cancellation of several recruitment examinations, including the 14th JPSC Civil Services Examination, and an independent probe into the alleged irregularities, either by the CBI or a panel of retired High Court judges from outside the state.