Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, a Congress Member of Parliament, criticized the government for using pellet guns and AK-47 rifles against student protesters [1].
The allegations highlight growing tensions between the Indian government and youth activists over the use of lethal force during civil demonstrations. The debate centers on whether the state's response to the "Sansad March" was proportional or constituted police brutality.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha in New Delhi on July 20, 2026, Gandhi Vadra addressed the house during a debate on the anti-paper-leak bill [2]. She questioned the necessity of deploying high-caliber weaponry against the country's youth, asking if the students were viewed as terrorists [1].
Gandhi Vadra demanded to know who authorized the use of pellet guns [1]. She asked if the order came from the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, saying that both must answer [1].
"What was the need to unleash pellet guns and AK-47s on the country’s youth? Were they terrorists?" Gandhi Vadra said [1]. "Who gave the order to use pellet guns?... Was it the Prime Minister? Was it the Home Minister? They must answer" [1].
She asserted that the demand for accountability extends beyond her political party. "The entire nation is asking. It is not just the Congress party; the entire nation is demanding an answer," Gandhi Vadra said [1].
The remarks follow reports of police using force against demonstrators during the Sansad March [2]. The debate in the Lok Sabha occurred as lawmakers discussed legislation intended to curb paper leaks in competitive examinations [2].
“"What was the need to unleash pellet guns and AK-47s on the country’s youth?"”
The confrontation in the Lok Sabha underscores a deepening political divide regarding civil liberties and law enforcement tactics in India. By directly questioning the Prime Minister and Home Minister, the opposition is attempting to link the use of paramilitary-grade weaponry in urban protests to a broader pattern of state crackdown on dissent, potentially escalating the legal and political scrutiny of the 'Sansad March' response.
