AAP Mocks Rahul Gandhi’s PM House Protest, Calls It ‘Jugalbandi with BJP’
Delhi: A fresh political rift emerged within the Opposition on Tuesday after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of undermining the ongoing Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) agitation by staging a separate protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence.
The controversy began after Rahul Gandhi, accompanied by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other senior leaders, held a dharna near Lok Kalyan Marg, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak. Police later detained the Congress leaders before releasing them.
Reacting sharply, Delhi AAP leaders alleged that the Congress protest diverted attention from the student-led CJP movement and accused Rahul Gandhi of weakening the agitation. AAP also claimed the Congress was acting in “jugalbandi” with the BJP by shifting the focus away from the protesters’ demands, deepening tensions between the two Opposition parties.
The Congress, however, defended its demonstration, saying it was intended to show solidarity with students and demand accountability from the Centre over the alleged police crackdown. The exchange has exposed growing strains within the Opposition even as protests over the NEET paper leak and examination reforms continue in the national capital.
