Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said Union Home Minister Amit Shah is either "culpable or incompetent" following police action against student protesters [1].
The accusation marks a significant escalation in the political standoff over civil liberties and police conduct in New Delhi. It follows a period of instability within the cabinet, including the recent resignation of the Union education minister.
Speaking during the Lok Sabha Monsoon Session on July 29, 2026 [2], Gandhi addressed the police response to student demonstrations at Jantar Mantar. The protests on July 20, 2026 [1] ended in a crackdown that reports describe as either firing or the use of pellet guns [1, 5].
Gandhi said that the Home Minister must be held accountable for the violence. "Either he ordered it or is incompetent," Gandhi said [3].
The Congress party is now demanding Shah's resignation and has called for a probe into the incident monitored by the Supreme Court [1]. This demand came four days after the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan [1].
The Congress party said the police brutality against students cannot be ignored. The party's push for an independent investigation reflects growing concerns over the methods used to disperse peaceful gatherings in the capital.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has not issued a formal response to the specific allegations made during the legislative session.
“"Either culpable or incompetent."”
This confrontation signals a deepening rift between the Indian government and the opposition over the management of public dissent. By framing the issue as a choice between culpability and incompetence, the opposition is attempting to force a leadership crisis within the Ministry of Home Affairs while linking the Jantar Mantar incident to a broader pattern of government instability.
