New Delhi. In an article published in an English newspaper, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, demanded that the government be held accountable for the police action during the student protest near Parliament on July 20.
He stated that responsibility should be fixed for the use of tear gas, batons, and pellet guns against the protesters, and that the central government should explain who ordered the action against the students.
If Home Minister Amit Shah authorized the action, he is responsible, and if he was unaware of it, it reflects his incompetence.
Referring to the July 20 protest by youth from across the country who arrived in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi said they were demanding a fair education system and accountability in paper leak cases.
The youth continued the tradition of peaceful protest in the country and demanded justice under their constitutional rights. Rahul alleged that the government used force against the protests to suppress the voices of the youth.
Tear gas shells, sharp-edged batons, and pellet guns were used against the protesters. In the article, he also mentioned the firing on student protesters in Bihar. He stated that several protesters were injured in various parts of Bihar, including Araria and Siwan.
Rahul Gandhi stated that he met with 19-year-old student Sahil Lochab. Sahil was hit by pellets in his upper body, and one pellet hit his eye, threatening to cause vision loss.
In the article, Rahul Gandhi questioned who authorized the action against the students, approximately 500 meters from Parliament.
He stated that security forces, including the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force, were present at the scene at the time, and they fall under the Home Minister’s jurisdiction. Did the Home Minister order this action against the students or was he unaware of it?
Rahul Gandhi stated that he faced two possibilities. First, if the Home Minister authorized the action, he bears responsibility for it.
Second, if he was unaware of the action, it represents a case of serious administrative incompetence. Even after the incident, the Home Minister neither ordered an investigation nor made a statement in Parliament. The opposition has consistently demanded a discussion on this issue in Parliament, but it has not been accepted.
Rahul Gandhi said that the government must respond to the students’ complaints and the actions taken against them. He alleged that the protesting young women and their parents are being targeted on social media and forced to publicly apologize.
In the article, Rahul Gandhi said that the country’s youth are becoming aware and are raising questions about the government’s policies and functioning.
He said that the demand for accountability from Sahil, who protested on July 20th, and thousands of young people across the country cannot be ignored. The opposition stands with the youth of the country.