Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday rejected the government's offer of a broader discussion on student-related issues, insisting that the Opposition wants a direct answer from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police action against protesting students in Delhi.
Gandhi said the Opposition was not seeking a general speech from Shah but wanted to know whether he had authorised the alleged police action during the student protest on June 20.
“The question was never on Amit Shah coming to speak in general topics,” Gandhi said. “The question [is] who authorised shooting in Delhi.”
'HE SHOULD COME CLEAN'
Gandhi demanded clarity from Shah over whether he had ordered the alleged action.
“He should come clean. He ordered or not ordered it?” Gandhi said.
The Opposition has accused Delhi Police of using excessive force against students protesting under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on June 20 and has alleged that pellet guns were used. Gandhi has claimed that the action was carried out on Shah's orders, though the government has not accepted that allegation.
“We [are] interested whether he authorised the shooting of the children or not,” Gandhi said.
He also sought to highlight what he described as the responsibility and conduct of the Prime Minister and Home Minister.
“The character of PM HM - I want to highlight,” he said.
'15 DAYS THEY HAVEN'T HAD THE GUTS TO OWN UP'
Gandhi accused the government of avoiding responsibility for the incident and said it had failed to explain what happened.
“15 days they haven't had the guts to own up and tell what they did,” he said.
His comments came after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was prepared for a detailed discussion on student-related concerns and that Shah would respond to the issues raised by the Opposition.
“The government is ready for a discussion on issues related to students. We are ready and will respond to all the points that will be raised by the Opposition. The Home Minister will respond,” Rijiju said.
Rijiju also appealed to Opposition MPs not to disrupt proceedings and allow Shah to respond.
“My only point to the Opposition is that while the discussion and a reply are being made, the Opposition should not create disturbances to prevent the statement of the Home Minister,” he said, urging MPs to listen to the government's response and participate in a detailed discussion.
PARLIAMENT DEADLOCK OVER STUDENT PROTEST
The exchange took place as Parliament continued to face disruptions over the Opposition's demand for a statement from Shah regarding the alleged police action against students in Delhi.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have both witnessed repeated protests, with Opposition MPs raising slogans against Shah and demonstrating outside Parliament. The Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, has seen limited legislative activity amid the continuing disruptions.
Earlier on Monday, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking directions for Shah to make a statement in Parliament.
Venugopal demanded a detailed response regarding what he called “police atrocities and the use of pellet guns against the youth and students in Delhi”. He described the alleged action against young people exercising their democratic rights as a matter of serious national concern that required parliamentary scrutiny.
He also argued that responsibility for the alleged police action ultimately rests with the Home Minister because Delhi Police operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
With four days of the Monsoon Session remaining, several important legislative measures are still pending amid the continued deadlock.
The Congress has issued a whip directing its Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs to remain present on August 10, 11 and 12, citing important matters scheduled for discussion. The party has also urged its INDIA bloc allies to ensure their MPs attend Parliament.
