Kathmandu— Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for remaining silent regarding police actions taken against students protesting a leaked exam paper on July 20th in New Delhi, calling for his resignation. Gandhi shared an article detailing alleged excessive force used by police – including pellet guns, studded batons, and tear gas – against peaceful protesters at Jantar Mantar, claiming the violence stemmed from centralized government control and directly implicates Shah. He argues that Shah’s lack of response constitutes approval of the actions taken against the students.

Allegations of Excessive Force

Gandhi detailed accounts of injuries sustained by protesters, including young women allegedly beaten by police and minors with broken bones. He described the use of pellet guns, nail-studded lathis (batons), and tear gas against students who were peacefully questioning the integrity of the NEET-UG exam. Gandhi asserted that these actions represent the Modi government’s response to legitimate concerns about the future of education.

Accountability and Responsibility

The Congress leader presented two possibilities regarding Amit Shah's involvement: either he authorized the police action, making him culpable, or he was unaware of it, rendering him incompetent. Gandhi contends that regardless of the reason, as Home Minister, Shah bears responsibility for the events of July 20th and should resign. He further stated that Shah’s inaction—failing to order an inquiry, issue a statement, or appear before Parliament—demonstrates approval of the violence.

Centralized Control Claimed

Gandhi argued that the Narendra Modi government emphasizes centralized control over all initiatives, attributing successes to Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah. He highlighted that the police forces deployed at Jantar Mantar – Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) – report directly to the Home Minister, suggesting a direct line of command for the actions taken against protesters. The incident occurred within 500 meters of Parliament.

Parliamentary Impasse

Gandhi noted that multiple opposition motions requesting a parliamentary discussion on the matter have been rejected. Meanwhile, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has maintained that the government, not the opposition, determines which ministers will address the House.

The Congress party and the broader INDIA bloc continue to demand Amit Shah’s statement in Parliament and are protesting both inside and outside of the legislative body.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.