Ranchi, Aug 11 — Jharkhand BJP President Aditya Sahu on Tuesday attacked the JMM-led state government and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the police action against students during the Assembly gherao protest, alleging that the crackdown was carried out to suppress a democratic protest.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters here, Sahu described August 10 as a "black day" for Jharkhand and accused the police of using barbed wire barricades, water cannons, tear gas shells, and baton charges against students who were holding a peaceful protest.
He claimed that female students were also not spared during the action and alleged that cameras belonging to media personnel were damaged.
Sahu said the manner in which the protest was handled raises serious concerns about the functioning of democracy in the state.
Holding Rahul Gandhi accountable for the incident, Sahu said the Jharkhand government survives with Congress support and questioned why the Congress leader, who frequently raises student-related issues in other states, had remained silent on the students’ demand for a CBI probe in Jharkhand.
He said that if Gandhi possessed moral courage, he should come to Jharkhand and stage a sit-in protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence in support of the students.
Sahu further argued that if the state government refuses to address the concerns of students, the Congress should withdraw its support from the ruling dispensation.
He also said Gandhi should have visited Jharkhand and interacted with the agitating students before travelling to Prayagraj, accusing him of double standards on student issues.
Sahu maintained that the voices of students cannot be suppressed through lathis, bullets, firearms, water cannons or tear gas.
He claimed that the movement in Jharkhand had now transcended state boundaries and evolved into a national issue, adding that NDA MPs have raised the matter both inside and outside Parliament in support of the protesting students.
Questioning Chief Minister Hemant Soren's praise for the restraint shown by the police and administration, Sahu asked on what grounds the baton charge and other coercive measures against peaceful demonstrators could be justified.
He also described the BJP-sponsored Jharkhand bandh on Tuesday as a success, saying that despite the short notice, people across the state extended substantial support to the shutdown.
Sahu thanked the public, party workers and the media for their cooperation and asserted that the fight for justice for students would continue both on the streets and in the legislature.