Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking accountability for a crackdown on student protesters [1].

The demand for answers follows allegations of excessive force against peaceful students, raising questions about the legality of police tactics used during public demonstrations in the capital.

The incident occurred July 20, 2026 [1], at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar [2]. Gandhi said the police action was a "barbaric assault" [3]. He alleged that security forces used tear gas, lathi charges, and pellet guns to disperse the crowd [1].

In his correspondence, Gandhi focused on the specific weaponry used during the confrontation. "The use of pellet guns was most shocking," Gandhi said [1]. He questioned the chain of command regarding the operation, saying, "I demand answers on who authorised the use of pellet guns" [3].

The Congress leader alleged that the force used was unjustified given the nature of the protest. He argued that the state must provide transparency regarding who gave the orders to target students during the event [4].

This letter was reported July 26, 2026 [2], as the opposition continues to press the government for a formal explanation of the events that transpired six days prior. The Union Home Ministry has not yet issued a public response to the specific allegations regarding the authorization of pellet guns.

“"Barbaric assault"”

This escalation highlights the growing tension between the Indian opposition and the central government over the management of civil dissent. By specifically questioning the authorization of pellet guns—weapons typically reserved for high-conflict zones—Gandhi is attempting to frame the Delhi police action as a systemic failure of proportionality and a violation of democratic protest rights.