Rahul Gandhi (Congress) accused Home Minister Amit Shah (BJP) of ordering police to fire pellets at student protesters during a Lok Sabha debate.
The confrontation marks a sharp escalation in parliamentary tensions over the government's handling of civil unrest and the use of force against students.
Speaking during a session on Wednesday, Gandhi said that Shah is "either culpable or incompetent." He linked the Home Minister directly to the events of July 20 [1], when police fired pellets at students protesting at Jantar Mantar [1].
Gandhi demanded that the government fire Shah, saying that the Home Minister ordered the crackdown on the students [2]. He further called for a probe monitored by the Supreme Court to ensure accountability for the actions taken at the protest site [2].
The remarks occurred during a debate on legislation regarding the prevention of unfair means in public examinations [1], also referred to as the anti-paper leak bill [2]. The accusations triggered an immediate uproar among members of Parliament in New Delhi.
Gandhi's focus on the July 20 incident [1] highlights a growing friction between the opposition and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the policing of student-led demonstrations. He said the scale of the crackdown necessitates a high-level judicial inquiry to determine the chain of command that led to the use of pellets [2].
Shah and the BJP have not issued a formal rebuttal to the specific claim regarding the pellets in the provided reports, though the session was characterized by heavy disruption following the MP's speech [1].
“"Amit Shah is either culpable or incompetent."”
This clash reflects the deepening divide in the Lok Sabha over state security and human rights. By demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe, the opposition is attempting to move the debate from political rhetoric to a legal framework, potentially forcing the government to disclose internal directives regarding the Jantar Mantar crackdown.
