Priyanka Gandhi Confronts BJP MP's "Jharkhand" Slogan in Parliament

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was confronted by a BJP MP outside Parliament on Monday after NDA MPs protested against the Jharkhand government's handling of student demonstrations. The BJP MP raised slogans questioning why Rahul Gandhi had not visited Jharkhand following the police action against protesting students and job aspirants.

The incident took place as MPs arrived for the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Several NDA members were seen carrying placards and protesting a day after police used water cannons, tear gas and batons to disperse students marching towards the Jharkhand Assembly. The protesters have been demanding action over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations.

As Priyanka Gandhi passed the protesting MPs, one BJP member repeatedly asked, "Jharkhand kyun nahi gaye?" or "Why didn't he go to Jharkhand?" The MP also raised slogans targeting Rahul Gandhi. Priyanka stopped and looked at the placard before attempting to respond to the protest.

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She then challenged the BJP MP's claim, saying that Rahul Gandhi had already met students from Jharkhand. Her response came amid a political dispute over the Congress leader's engagement with the protesting students and the opposition's response to the police action in the state.

The confrontation comes as political tensions rise over the Jharkhand student protests. Thousands of job aspirants had marched towards the state Assembly on Monday, demanding transparency in recruitment examinations and raising allegations of irregularities involving the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. Police subsequently used force to disperse the protesters, with several people reportedly injured.

The Jharkhand BJP has since called a statewide bandh to protest the police action, accusing the JMM-led government of using force against students instead of addressing their demands. The student protesters, however, have maintained that their movement is not affiliated with any political party and have said their primary focus remains securing action on their demands.

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