BJP President and Union Minister JP Nadda on Monday levelled allegations against Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of misleading the general public over student protests which took place at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar last month, and deliberately disrupting proceedings in Parliament.

Minister Nadda insisted that the Union Government was ready to discuss every issue raised by the Opposition, including the developments surrounding the student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. He also shunned allegations that the cops present on the protest site had fired at protestors, terming the claim ‘false’ and accusing the Congress of propagating misinformation.

JP Nadda (Left) and Rahul Gandhi (Right)

“Stop spreading confusion”: Nadda

Addressing the media, Minister Nadda said there had been no firing at Jantar Mantar during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20. Furthermore, he urged the Opposition not to create confusion over the protests.

He said, “There was no firing at Jantar Mantar. Stop spreading confusion.” Continuing his statements, he said Union Home Minister Amit Shah was prepared to respond to every issue raised by the Opposition in Parliament, questioning why Congress leaders were allegedly reluctant to participate in a debate despite repeatedly demanding discussions on various matters.

Standoff between Minister Nadda and Rahul Gandhi in the Parliament

“Why are they running away from discussion?”

Minister Nadda further questioned Gandhi’s approach to Parliament, asking why the Congress leader was avoiding discussions if the government was willing to provide answers. He asked, “The Home Minister is ready to answer every question. If that is the case, why are they running away from the discussion?”

Thereafter, the BJP President also accused Gandhi of ‘changing the goalpost’ every day, alleging that the Opposition was more interested in confrontation than constructive dialogue.

Government ‘ready to discuss’ issues being raised by the Opposition

Nadda claimed that the government had agreed to discussions on all issues raised by the Opposition, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, inflation and developments at Jantar Mantar.

However, he alleged that Congress members had chosen not to participate in the discussions. Turning his attention to the student agitation in Jharkhand, Nadda also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s alleged silence over the protests there. He claimed that barbed-wire barricades had been erected to prevent protesting students from advancing.

Nadda alleged that the Congress, which is part of the ruling alliance in Jharkhand, was ignoring students’ concerns in the state while criticising the Centre over protests in Delhi.

BJP alleges ‘double standards’

Accusing Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of adopting “double standards”, Nadda alleged that the party was attempting to create “anarchy” and pursuing “negative politics” instead of engaging in constructive debate.

“I want to state very clearly that the double standards adopted by Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, creating anarchy, engaging in negative politics, and playing the role of an irresponsible opposition do nothing for the country’s future or its progress,” he said.

The remarks came amid heightened political tensions over student protests and repeated disruptions in Parliament, with the BJP and Congress continuing to trade accusations over the handling of demonstrations and the functioning of the House.