Who ordered firing on students? Don’t want Amit Shah’s fantasy conversation: Rahul Gandhi

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju reiterated on Monday that the government is willing to engage in a Parliament discussion regarding police action on protesters on July 20, and that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is prepared to respond. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, demanded that Shah first answer the question of who ordered the firing on students, stating that the public is not interested in Shah's "fantasy conversations."

Gandhi also emphasized that students should see that neither Shah nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi have "the courage to comment on what happened to the students in Delhi on July 20." After the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of the Lok Sabha, Rijiju stated that the government is ready for a comprehensive discussion on the student and youth protests occurring across the country, and that the Home Minister will provide a point-by-point response to the debate on behalf of the government.

The Opposition, however, insisted that they must pledge to participate in the debate peacefully without disrupting proceedings or fleeing in the face of turmoil and slogan shouting for reasons unrelated to the discussion. At a press conference at Indira Bhavan on Monday evening, Gandhi clarified that the question was not about Shah delivering a general speech in Parliament, but rather about him making it clear who authorized the shooting of the students in Delhi.

He pointed out that Shah fired pellet guns at students and beat them with lathis fitted with nails. Gandhi demanded that Shah either admit to ordering the firing or prove he was unaware of the incident; whichever the case, he argued, Shah should resign. Gandhi also listed two additional demands: an apology from Prime Minister Modi and a discussion on the alleged theft of funds for the Ram temple.

He expressed his desire to know who is responsible and culpable for the events, before discussing any other matters. Gandhi, addressing reporters alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, emphasized that neither Modi nor Shah had shown the courage to come to the House and own up to their actions. He urged the students to observe and understand that the brutality shown to them in Delhi should not be met with any discussion of its own.