NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi has stepped up his attack on the Centre, taking direct aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah over the police crackdown on students protesting at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar over the NEET paper leak.The students’ prolonged agitation eventually led to one of their key demands being met, with Dharmendra Pradhan resigning as Union education minister.However, Rahul Gandhi, while sharing his column published in a daily newspaper, continued to target the government over the alleged police action against protesters. Referring to the reported use of force, he questioned how the Modi government responds to young people demanding answers about their future.He wrote in his post on X: “Pellet guns, Nail-studded lathis, tear gas fired at students who were peacefully asking questions about their own future. Young women beaten by policemen, many injured on their private parts. Minors with broken bones. This is how the Modi government answers a question.”Rae Bareli MP then turned his focus to Amit Shah, questioning his absence from Parliament and accusing him of remaining silent over the incident.Rahul said, “And the home minister? Nearly 20 days and Amit Shah has not come to Parliament to answer for it. Every Opposition motion for a discussion has been rejected. His silence is not an oversight – it is approval of the violence. He is either culpable or incompetent.”He added, “We demand a Supreme Court monitored inquiry. And we will not stop fighting until he is held accountable.”In his column, Rahul recalled meeting students who were injured during the protests and questioned the Centre’s handling of the incident. He argued that power in the government is highly “centralised” and pointed out that the Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF), deployed at Jantar Mantar on July 20, report to Amit Shah-led Union home ministry.He presented two possibilities: either Shah “authorised” the police action or he had “no idea that it was taking place”.“The Narendra Modi government prides itself on its centralised control. Whether it is a mission to Mars or an Olympic medal, it repeatedly trumpets that the credit is due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah. Nothing moves without their approval.”“The violence happened in the heart of Delhi, barely 500 metres from Parliament. Both the security forces deployed, the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF), report directly to the home minister,” he added.LoP in Lok Sabha said Shah’s failure to address Parliament over the incident raises questions about his responsibility as Home Minister.He said, “There are only two possibilities. First, he authorised the attack on the students – in which case he is culpable. Second, he had no idea that it was taking place – which means that he is entirely incompetent. Either way, as Home Minister, what happened on that day is his responsibility, and he must resign.”“Instead, his inaction proves that he approves of the attack on students. He has not ordered any inquiry or even issued a statement. He has refused to come to Parliament, and motions filed,” the column read.
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The Congress and the INDIA bloc have repeatedly demanded a statement from Amit Shah in Parliament and have staged protests both inside and outside the House over the issue.On Monday, another Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also demanded statement from Amit Shah in Parliament.Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju, however, has maintained that the Opposition cannot dictate which minister should come to Parliament and make a statement, saying the decision rests with the government.
