Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Why Standards Aren't Same for BJP and Congress
Some people keep asking, 'Where is Rahul Gandhi?'
This article is written by a person who is a member of the Congress party in India.
It says Rahul Gandhi did stand with students who were protesting.
He was even held and taken away by police outside the Prime Minister's house.
The article says police used sticks and tear gas on people who were marching with Rahul Gandhi.
It also says nobody asks where the Prime Minister or the Home Minister is.
The writer thinks that is unfair and calls it a double standard.
The Congress party leader, Mallikarjun Kharge, says the party supports the students everywhere.
The article says people are no longer afraid and that democracy works best when the same rules apply to everyone.
The opinion article defends Rahul Gandhi's conduct as Leader of the Opposition, saying he consistently puts his body where the resistance is, including in the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Nyay Yatra.
It says Rahul Gandhi was dragged and detained outside the Prime Minister's residence while the Opposition pressed the students' case inside the House.
The author argues a double standard exists because no one asks where the Prime Minister or the Union Home Minister is, even though police under the Home Minister lathi-charged and tear-gassed marchers.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the party stands with the students in Jharkhand, Punjab and Delhi, 'whether it is our alliance partner or our opposition.'
The author, a Congress member, cautions that Congress's revival still requires organisation, candidates and unglamorous work at the booths.
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition; Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress president; Varun Santhosh, the article's author and a Congress member; students; and the unnamed Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.
- What
- An opinion article defending Rahul Gandhi's protest conduct and arguing that the standards for judging the BJP and the Congress are not the same.
- When
- No specific date is given; it references recent student protests and a political shift in July.
- Where
- India — including Jantar Mantar, Ranchi, Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi and the Prime Minister's residence.
- Why
- To counter repeated questions about where Rahul Gandhi is and to argue for a single democratic standard applied to everyone.
Congress and Rahul Gandhi's defenders
Critics asking 'Where is Rahul Gandhi?'
Presence at protest sites
Congress and Rahul Gandhi's defenders
Rahul Gandhi stood with the students when it mattered, was dragged and detained for it, and reaches places like Ranchi through party workers rather than personal appearances.
Critics asking 'Where is Rahul Gandhi?'
He should appear in person at key protest venues such as Jantar Mantar and Ranchi; his absence from these sites has drawn repeated questions.
Standards for BJP and Congress
Congress and Rahul Gandhi's defenders
No one asks where the Prime Minister or the Home Minister is, so subjecting only Rahul Gandhi to scrutiny is a corrosive double standard.
Critics asking 'Where is Rahul Gandhi?'
Questions about Rahul Gandhi's whereabouts are legitimate scrutiny of a national leader, and holding public figures accountable is part of democracy.
Congress's standing after July
Congress and Rahul Gandhi's defenders
What cracked in July was the BJP's exemption from criticism, and a generation that has stopped being afraid restores the Congress's relevance.
Critics asking 'Where is Rahul Gandhi?'
A crack in an aura is not a realignment; the Congress still needs organisation, candidates and work at the booths to actually revive.
- Author
- Varun Santhosh, a member of the Congress party
- Publication
- The Quint (opinion piece)
- Main subject
- Rahul Gandhi's conduct as Leader of the Opposition
- Congress president
- Mallikarjun Kharge
- Marches cited
- Bharat Jodo Yatra; Nyay Yatra
- States mentioned
- Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi
- Congress stance on students
- Party stands with the students 'whether it is our alliance partner or our opposition'
- Incident cited
- Rahul Gandhi dragged and detained outside the Prime Minister's residence