- Rahul Gandhi rejected Amit Shah’s suggestion that the Opposition submit a letter seeking a discussion.
- Gandhi questioned Shah’s absence from the Lok Sabha and demanded accountability over police action against protesting students.
- He asked who authorised the use of force and alleged that the Home Minister should resign if he ordered the action.
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi sharply criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah after Shah asked the Opposition to submit a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker by 2 pm if it wanted a discussion, provided the House was allowed to function.
Gandhi said the Opposition was not interested in what he described as a lecture from Shah. He also questioned why the Home Minister had not appeared in the House, turning the exchange into a direct political confrontation over the handling of student protests.
The dispute comes amid allegations surrounding police action against students during protests in Delhi. Gandhi has previously demanded accountability from Shah over the use of force, including allegations involving pellet guns and other measures.
Rahul Gandhi Amit Shah Clash Over Student Protest
Gandhi argued that the Opposition’s demand was for answers rather than a speech from the Home Minister. He framed the issue as one concerning India’s younger generation and repeatedly questioned who authorised the police response against students.
The Congress leader asked whether Shah had ordered the use of force against the protesters. He said that if the Home Minister had issued such an order, he should accept responsibility and resign.
Gandhi also challenged Shah’s continued absence from the Lok Sabha, saying the Home Minister should be present in Parliament to respond to questions directed at him.
Rahul Gandhi Amit Shah Row Intensifies in Parliament
The confrontation follows Gandhi’s earlier allegations that the use of force against students required authorisation from the country’s top political leadership. During an earlier Lok Sabha exchange, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanded that Gandhi provide evidence for his allegations or withdraw them.
Gandhi’s latest remarks indicate that the Opposition intends to keep the issue focused on accountability rather than accept a broader political response. The government’s willingness to discuss the matter, meanwhile, remains tied to its demand that parliamentary proceedings be allowed to function.
Student Protest Issue Keeps Pressure on Government
The political dispute has moved beyond the immediate confrontation between Gandhi and Shah. At its core is a continuing demand for clarity over the police response to student demonstrations and who authorised the use of force.
Gandhi had earlier written to Shah seeking answers over the alleged use of excessive force during the July 20 student protest in Delhi. He specifically questioned the reported use of pellet guns and the identity and authority of personnel seen assaulting protesters.
The latest exchange is likely to keep the issue at the centre of parliamentary proceedings, particularly as the Opposition presses for direct answers from the Home Minister and the government seeks to maintain the functioning of the House.
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