Kharge: Opposition not changing goalpost; three demands, including Shah's statement, unresolved

Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday asserted that the opposition's position has remained consistent since the beginning, even as Parliament's Monsoon Session continues to grapple with a logjam. He made the remarks while addressing reporters in the Parliament House complex, reiterating that the opposition is not changing its goalpost.

Kharge outlined three specific issues that the opposition has been raising. The first, he said, concerns the lathi-charge and firing on students. "We want to know who issued the orders and how it happened; we want a statement in the House regarding this," he said, referring to the police action against student protesters in Jharkhand.

Elaborating on the fallout of the police action, Kharge said many students fell ill or were hospitalised, over 100 suffered minor injuries, and many were wounded by pellet guns. "We want a statement on this matter as well. It has been 18 days, and there is no willingness to provide a statement," he added, underlining the opposition's frustration over the lack of response from the government.

The second issue on the opposition's list, according to Kharge, is the "Chanda Chori" (donation theft) matter. Without going into details, he indicated that this remains a key concern for the opposition. The third issue is the demand for an apology for the incidents involving students.

Kharge also sought to clarify that the students' protest in Jharkhand is a "separate issue" and asked whether every single issue can be taken up on a single day. This appears to be a response to the government's suggestion that the opposition should not conflate different matters.

"We are not changing our goalpost. Our position has remained consistent from the very beginning," Kharge reiterated. He stressed that these three issues have been raised from the beginning, remain relevant now, and will continue to persist until they are resolved.

The opposition, led by the Congress, has been demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the police action. The government, however, has not demonstrated any willingness to make such a statement, leading to a standoff that has stalled legislative business in both Houses.

The stalemate has already led to several adjournments, with opposition MPs repeatedly raising slogans in the Well of the House. The government has urged the opposition to allow proceedings to function, but the opposition has insisted that a statement from the Home Minister is a precondition for any progress.

Kharge's remarks highlight the deep rift between the ruling side and the opposition. The reference to the "Chanda Chori" matter also suggests that the opposition is pursuing multiple avenues of accountability, even as the primary focus remains on the treatment of student protesters.

As the session continues, there appears to be no immediate resolution in sight. The opposition has made it clear that it will not relent until its demands are met, setting the stage for further confrontations in Parliament.