Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Odisha BJP questions Naveen Patnaik's silence over Jharkhand police action
In India, two political groups called the BJP and the BJD are arguing about students.
Some students in a state called Jharkhand were protesting about problems with their exams, and the police used force against them.
The BJP is upset because a BJD leader named Naveen Patnaik has not said anything about the students in Jharkhand.
The BJP says he spoke up for students in Delhi before, so it is unfair (they call it "double standards") for him to stay quiet now.
The BJD says that is not true, and that Mr. Patnaik has always said talking with young people is important.
The BJD also asks why BJP leaders did not speak up when students protested in Delhi at a place called Jantar Mantar.
The BJP is also asking why a Congress leader named Rahul Gandhi is not speaking about the Jharkhand students.
The Congress party, on the other hand, wants a big government leader named Amit Shah to quit because of police actions in Delhi.
They also want an education minister named Nityananda Gond to quit because of mistakes in school books.
Nobody is agreeing, and each side is blaming the other for not caring enough about students.
The Odisha BJP has questioned BJD president Naveen Patnaik's silence on alleged police excesses against agitating students in Jharkhand.
BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal called the silence a "double standard," noting Patnaik strongly reacted to the Jantar Mantar matter but is silent on Jharkhand.
BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty hit back, asking where BJP leaders were during the Gen-Z demonstrations against then-Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Jantar Mantar.
The Odisha BJP also criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his silence, alleging police attacked students under the Congress-backed JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) government.
The Odisha Congress demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah over police excesses on students in Delhi and of Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond over textbook errors.
- Who
- The Odisha Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its spokesperson Anil Biswal, BJD president Naveen Patnaik and BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and the Odisha Congress.
- What
- A political dispute over alleged police excesses against agitating students in Jharkhand and over each party's silence on student issues.
- When
- Reported on Tuesday.
- Where
- Odisha (Bhubaneswar), Jharkhand, and Delhi's Jantar Mantar.
- Why
- The BJP accused Patnaik of "hypocrisy" and "double standards" for reacting strongly to the Jantar Mantar matter but staying silent on Jharkhand; the BJD and Congress in turn accused the BJP of its own silence and demanded accountability.
BJP's Position
BJD and Congress Position
Silence on Jharkhand police action
BJP's Position
Naveen Patnaik's silence on police action against students in Jharkhand is hypocrisy and double standards, since he strongly reacted to the Jantar Mantar matter; he claimed to stand firmly with students across the country.
BJD and Congress Position
Patnaik's stand is clear — he has said dialogue with the youth is necessary — and BJP leaders were silent during the Gen-Z demonstrations against Dharmendra Pradhan at Jantar Mantar.
Patnaik's political alignment
BJP's Position
Patnaik is unofficially going along with Congress and indicated he would side with that party in future politics.
BJD and Congress Position
The BJD reacted sharply to the charge and pointed to the BJP's own silence on student protests, insisting Patnaik's stand is clear in both Jharkhand and Odisha.
Responsibility for police action on students
BJP's Position
Police are attacking students under the Congress-backed JMM government in Jharkhand; Rahul Gandhi is hiding, and when students asked for accountability in examinations, the government responded with batons and tear gas.
BJD and Congress Position
The Odisha Congress demanded the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah over police excesses on students in Delhi, directing blame at the BJP-led central government.
- Event
- Political dispute over police action on students in Jharkhand and Delhi
- Accuser
- Odisha BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal
- Targets of BJP criticism
- BJD president Naveen Patnaik and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
- BJP allegation
- "Hypocrisy" and "double standards" — silence on Jharkhand despite strong reaction to the Jantar Mantar matter
- BJD rebuttal
- Patnaik's stand is clear: dialogue with youth is necessary; BJP leaders were silent during Jantar Mantar Gen-Z protests
- States cited for question paper leaks
- Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab
- Government in Jharkhand
- Congress-backed JMM (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha)
- Resignation demands by Odisha Congress
- Home Minister Amit Shah (Delhi police excesses) and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond (textbook errors)