After Congress forced the proceedings of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) student Rohith Vemula suicide issue and JNU issue as well, the confrontation between the Centre and its oppositions over police action against the issues, was shifted to Rajyasabha.

The issue went viral after HRD minister Smriti Irani against Congress leaders, read the pamphlet brought out by a section of JNU students, which had derogatory references to goddess Durga. Even though the deputy Congress leader in RS Anand Sharma said that pamphlet would set a dangerous precedent and asked her not to quote it, Irani continued to do it.

Seeking to support her theme about the “depraved mentality” of a section of JNU students, Irani insisted to allow to cite pamphlet again.

Irani further rejected the charge of saffronisation of education and to buttress her point, cited the case of a Left MP's wife, who was appointed by the NDA regime as an ICHR (Indian Council of Historical Research) member.

Congress' resistance came against the backdrop of the realization that by walking out of Lok Sabha on Wednesday, giving the Centre, a walkover.

CPM's Sitaram Yechury, on the other side, started the debate, attacking the government for its interference in higher educational institutions’ affairs and forcing its nationalism definition on everyone.

Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad supported Sitaram, after the latter demanded a parliamentary panel to find out the actual happenings in JNU and HCU. Azad further added that the panel be headed by an opposition leader.

But just like in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, the Centre took on the oppositions well, with BJP member Bhupendra Yadav taking off from where HRD minister and his other BJP colleagues had left on Wednesday. Yadav charged Congress and Left with glossing over the alleged anti-national activities and of attacking the government unfairly.

By Phani Ch