Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a fresh attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of remaining silent over the alleged police crackdown on student protesters and questioning why he had not addressed Parliament on the issue.
The remarks came amid an escalating political confrontation over the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak controversy, with the Opposition demanding accountability from the government.
'Why is Amit Shah scared?'
Addressing the issue, Rahul Gandhi questioned the Home Minister's absence during the debate and alleged that the government's response reflected a lack of accountability.
"Why is Amit Shah scared? Why isn't he coming to Parliament? If he has done nothing wrong, he should answer the country," Rahul Gandhi said.
He further described the police action against student protesters as "brutal" and alleged that the government had responded with force instead of addressing the concerns of young people.
Congress targets government's handling of student protests
The Congress leader alleged that students demanding justice over the examination controversy were met with excessive police action.
"Violence was unleashed on our students. Instead of listening to them, the government chose repression," Rahul Gandhi said.
His remarks triggered sharp protests from the treasury benches, leading to noisy scenes in the Lok Sabha during the debate.
Centre rejects allegations
The Centre strongly denied Rahul Gandhi's allegations, asserting that no bullets were fired during the police action and that only tear gas was used to disperse protesters.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh rejected the charge that Amit Shah had ordered violence against students.
"No bullets were fired on protesters. So where is the question of Amit Shah giving such an order?" Singh said.
The government also demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making unsubstantiated allegations against the Home Minister.
Political row intensifies
The exchange has further intensified the political battle over the government's handling of the NEET paper leak protests, with the Opposition continuing to demand a statement from Amit Shah in Parliament while the BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of spreading misinformation. The issue has led to repeated disruptions in both Houses of Parliament as the standoff between the government and the Opposition continues.
