Rajya Sabha Erupts After J.P. Nadda Says Student Activists Should Face Police Action

A remark by Union Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha J. P. Nadda that student activists should be prepared to face police action triggered a storm in the Upper House on Wednesday, leading to heated exchanges, sloganeering by Opposition members, and the eventual adjournment of proceedings.

The controversy erupted after Opposition MPs raised concerns over the alleged entry of Delhi Police personnel into the national headquarters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to arrest student leader Aishe Ghosh.

Opposition Raises Police Action Against Student Leader

The issue was raised by CPI(M) MP John Brittas, who alleged that Delhi Police officials entered the CPI(M) office on Tuesday in an attempt to arrest Ghosh, the former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU).

According to Brittas, Ghosh's alleged offence was her participation in a student protest held at Jantar Mantar. He claimed that when questioned, police officials cited pending cases dating back to 2020–21.

"I have no problem with Delhi Police taking lawful action, but entering a national political party office without prior information is shocking," Brittas said, urging the government to explain the circumstances surrounding the incident.

He also questioned whether the action was intended to intimidate political activists and demanded a statement from the Union Home Ministry.

Kharge Calls Incident "Shameful"

Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge backed the concerns raised by the CPI(M), describing the alleged police action as "very shameful."

Kharge said police should not enter the office of a recognised national political party to arrest a leader and demanded accountability, urging the government to take action against the officers involved if procedural norms had been violated.

Opposition members continued raising slogans inside the House as they pressed for a response from the government.

Nadda Defends Police Action

Responding to the Opposition's criticism, J.P. Nadda said police were carrying out their normal law-and-order responsibilities.

Recalling his own experience as a student activist during the Emergency, Nadda said he too had faced arrests while participating in protests.

"I was also a student leader. During the Emergency, I was arrested several times. It is normal law-and-order activity which the police have to undertake," he said.

He further remarked, "Any student who wants to do activism should face police; even I faced many times during the Emergency."

The statement immediately drew loud protests from Opposition benches, with members objecting to the remark and disrupting further proceedings.

House Adjourned Amid Uproar

As the commotion continued, BJP MP Rajib Bhattacharjee attempted to make a statement but was repeatedly interrupted by Opposition members.

Unable to restore order, Rajya Sabha Chairman C. P. Radhakrishnan adjourned the House until noon.

Other Parliamentary Business

Before the disruption, several ministers tabled official papers and reports in the House. These included submissions by Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Education, Nityanand Rai for the Ministry of Home Affairs, and other ministers representing the Ministries of Fisheries, Social Justice and Empowerment, and Women and Child Development.

Members also tabled the Twenty-Seventh Report of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Coal, Mines and Steel concerning infrastructure development for washed coal production.

In addition, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal moved a motion seeking the Rajya Sabha's concurrence with the Lok Sabha's recommendation to elect two members to the Joint Committee on Offices of Profit following vacancies created by the retirement of two members.

However, the proceedings were largely overshadowed by the political confrontation over the Delhi Police action and Nadda's remarks on student activism, which became the focal point of the day's debate in the Upper House.