Within hours, however, the protests had also become the latest flashpoint in the long-running rivalry between the Congress and the AAP. The AAP’s response stood in contrast to that of most opposition parties, which directed their criticism squarely at the Modi government and the police crackdown. It is against this backdrop, Kumar argued, that the AAP’s sharp criticism of the Congress over the student protests should be understood. Sircar argued that the student protests had reached a stage where political parties are competing not merely to support the movement but also to become identified with it. “Political parties co-opt movements and learn how to lead them,” he said.