NEW DELHI — Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding him responsible for the police action against students protesting in Delhi and accusing the Centre of suppressing dissent instead of addressing their concerns.
Gandhi alleged that he was denied an opportunity to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha despite repeatedly seeking permission from the Speaker.
“The Leader of the Opposition was not allowed to speak,” Gandhi said, saying that while senior ministers were permitted to address the House, he was prevented from speaking because of his criticism aimed at the Home Minister.
Maintaining that he had nothing to apologise for, Gandhi said it was his duty as Leader of the Opposition to raise matters of public importance. “I will never apologise to the BJP, the RSS or anyone associated with them,” he said.
Holding up photographs of students injured during the protests, Gandhi accused the Delhi Police of using excessive force, including pellet guns and batons fitted with nails, against demonstrators. He claimed that one student who was hit by pellets could lose his eyesight and questioned the presence of individuals in plain clothes who were allegedly seen participating in the crackdown.
Calling the police action an attack on students exercising their democratic rights, Gandhi alleged that protesters were being intimidated even after the demonstrations through surveillance measures, including facial recognition technology, and by the mobilisation of right-wing groups to discourage future protests.
The Congress leader placed direct responsibility on Amit Shah, arguing that both the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force function under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
“Any action taken by the police or any force under the Home Ministry requires the approval of the Home Minister,” Gandhi said. He further claimed that he had personally seen Shah speaking to senior police officials while the protests were unfolding.
He argued that the Home Minister was left with only two possibilities: either he authorised the use of force against the students or he was unaware of what security agencies under his ministry were doing. “In either case, he has to go,” Gandhi said.
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Addressing the protesting students, Gandhi accused the Home Minister of being responsible for the violence they allegedly endured. He also asserted that while Shah headed the ministry overseeing the police, ultimate responsibility rested with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Referring to a letter he sent to Shah on July 25, Gandhi said he had sought answers on whether the Home Minister had approved the use of pellet guns, who authorised the deployment of individuals in plain clothes alongside police personnel and under what circumstances force was sanctioned. He alleged that the government had neither responded to the questions nor acknowledged receiving the letter.
Gandhi also promised that the Opposition would continue pursuing the matter until those responsible were held accountable. He claimed that the Congress had gathered photographs and videos relating to the police action and said accountability would eventually be fixed.
Calling for immediate action, Gandhi urged Prime Minister Modi to sack Amit Shah from the Union Cabinet and order an independent investigation into the police crackdown under the supervision of a high-powered committee monitored by the Supreme Court.
“The students deserve justice,” Gandhi said, adding that the Opposition would continue to press the government until responsibility for the alleged police excesses was established. – With inputs from agencies
