New Delhi, 29 July (H.S.): A heated exchange took place between the Opposition and the ruling side in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday over the alleged attempt by Delhi Police to detain Aishe Ghosh, a student leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and former president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU). While the Opposition described the move as an attack on democracy, the government termed it a routine law-and-order action and accused the Opposition of politicising the matter.

Raising the issue in the House, CPI(M) MP John Brittas alleged that some Delhi Police personnel had reached the party headquarters, AKG Bhawan, on Tuesday with the intention of arresting Aishe Ghosh. He claimed that the police informed them that the action was related to a case linked to a protest held on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus in 2021. Brittas alleged that the police personnel entered the party office without uniforms and that the move was intended to create an atmosphere of fear.

Supporting Brittas’ remarks, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that if police and central agencies enter the office of a recognised national political party to arrest someone without a proper warrant, it would create a dangerous situation for democracy. He demanded accountability from the officials responsible for such action and sought clarification on whose instructions they had been sent there.

Responding on behalf of the government, Leader of the House and Union Minister J.P. Nadda rejected the Opposition’s allegations and said that the incident was a normal law-and-order-related action. He stated that when student activists violate law and order, the police are required to act according to their responsibilities, and such action should not be considered unusual.

Referring to the Emergency period, Nadda said that he himself had been active in student politics and had been arrested several times from classrooms during the Congress government’s rule. He said that those involved in student activism often face such situations and accused the Opposition of politicising a routine police action related to maintaining law and order.

It may be noted that on Tuesday, a Delhi Police team had reportedly reached the CPI(M) headquarters, AKG Bhawan, to detain Aishe Ghosh in connection with an old case. However, following protests by party leaders, the police team returned without taking her into custody. The CPI(M) has alleged that the old case was being used as a pretext to take action against Ghosh due to her participation in a recent student protest at Jantar Mantar.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar