Tempers flared in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday as the Monsoon Session witnessed another stormy showdown between the treasury and Opposition benches over the police response to the nationwide student protests linked to the examination controversy. The heated exchange forced repeated disruptions before the House was adjourned amid loud protests.
Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised serious concerns over the alleged use of force against protesters and questioned the presence of individuals who, according to him, had acted without authority during the demonstrations. Calling for accountability, Kharge demanded that responsibility be fixed and action initiated against those involved.
“I request you, people who have gone there unauthorised, they should be punished. Why have they gone? Who are they? Who ordered them? Who ordered? I am asking who are… who asked them to go there? Who ordered? That is why…” Kharge said while addressing the House amid continuous sloganeering.
Responding to the allegations, BJP president and Union Minister J.P. Nadda rejected the Opposition’s criticism, maintaining that the police had acted in accordance with normal law-and-order procedures.
“Whatever my friend John Brittas has said, this is a very normal law and order situation that we have to understand. I have been a student activist. I have been arrested many times from the classroom in emergency days when the Congress party was ruling. I have been arrested. I have been arrested,” Nadda told the House.
Defending the police response further, Nadda said those participating in agitations must also be prepared to face legal consequences if public order is disrupted.
“It is a normal situation. A student activist has to face… and those who take law and order in their own hand, the police has to act accordingly. And the police has acted accordingly for those cases. They are trying to sensationalise. It is a normal law and order activity which the police undertakes,” he said.
Drawing parallels with his own political journey during the Emergency, Nadda added, “And any student activist who wants to do activism should face this. Even I have faced it not once, but many times. When there was the Emergency, I was arrested from the classroom, not once but twice. So this is a very normal situation.”
The confrontation followed Opposition allegations regarding the handling of the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march, during which student protesters attempted to move towards Parliament from Jantar Mantar. The demonstration reportedly witnessed police action, including lathicharge and the use of tear gas to disperse the crowd.
As both sides continued to trade accusations inside the House, repeated interruptions made it difficult for proceedings to continue, prompting the Chair to adjourn the Rajya Sabha until noon.
The debate comes days after the student-led agitation at Jantar Mantar was called off following discussions with the Centre, which assured protesters that several of their demands would be addressed. However, the police action during the demonstrations continues to remain a major flashpoint between the government and the Opposition.
