New Delhi, Aug 12: Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Wednesday targeted Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the ongoing student agitation in Jharkhand, alleging that he was ignoring the protesters and was “unable to hear the ‘Jharkhand Ki Goonj’”.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Seth contrasted Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme with the agitation in Jharkhand and said, “Rahul Gandhi has still not visited Jharkhand, even after students sustaining injuries due to cane charge.”
“He is the biggest factory of lies in the country. He picks and chooses; he is unable to hear the ‘Jharkhand Ki Goonj’,” Seth said.
Seth alleged that Gandhi was reluctant to visit Jharkhand because the Congress is an ally of the ruling JMM-led government in the state.
The BJP leader also alleged that Ranchi officials visited protesting students around 1 a.m. and that electricity was subsequently cut at the protest site. He further claimed that police removed a generator arranged by the students to restore power.
Seth accused the Jharkhand government of adopting a “dictatorial attitude” and alleged that a scam of around Rs 400 crore had taken place. He questioned why a CBI probe was not being sought into the alleged irregularities and claimed that the investigation could have implications for leaders associated with the ruling alliance.
“The students of Jharkhand are determined and will continue their agitation even if electricity is cut. They cannot be threatened by anyone,” Seth said.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also criticised the Congress leadership over its response to the student agitation. He questioned why Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, were not taking a stronger stand in support of the protesting students.
“Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi should be ashamed of the way Ranchi’s DC, SP, DGP, and Chief Secretary are behaving with the protesting children. I have never seen such tyranny,” Dubey said.
Questioning the alleged examination irregularities involving JPSC-JSSC aspirants, Dubey demanded to know why a CBI probe was not being allowed. He alleged that a thorough investigation could reveal the involvement of several senior officials and political leaders.
Dubey also urged the Congress to withdraw its support to the JMM in Jharkhand and stand with the protesting students.
The allegations regarding the alleged Rs 400-crore scam, political involvement and administrative conduct were made by the BJP leaders and could not be independently verified from the information available.
