Kathmandu— Congress Member of Parliament Gaurav Gogoi questioned the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a two-day parliamentary discussion on education, highlighting that both Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had participated. He also criticized the government’s handling of recent student protests in Jharkhand, specifically alleging the use of pellet guns against demonstrators and demanding accountability from Shah. The remarks came amidst broader accusations that the ruling party was shielding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and questioning the character of protesting students.

Parliamentary Absence

Gogoi inquired about Amit Shah’s non-participation in the education discussion, noting that it occurred while other BJP leaders, including Minister Jitendra Singh, made statements on the topic. He suggested that Shah's absence was inappropriate for a parliamentary setting, stating, “This is neither his classroom nor his workshop; this is a House of responsibility.” The Congress MP also pointed out the prolonged absence of the Education Minister himself, claiming the opposition had requested his presence in parliament for approximately fifteen days.

Protest Response and Accountability

The Congressman raised concerns regarding the alleged use of pellet guns during student protests, directly asking Shah to take responsibility. “He must accept responsibility: where did the order to fire pellet guns come from?” Gogoi demanded, suggesting that Shah should resign if he was unaware of the order or if it originated from his office. He also referenced Rahul Gandhi’s immediate condemnation of a lathi-charge against students in Jharkhand.

Allegations of Abuse and Shielding

Gogoi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government of attempting to shield Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while simultaneously questioning the character of those involved in the protests. He further stated that young women who met with Rahul Gandhi had reported experiencing abusive language, and criticized the Prime Minister for remaining silent on the issue. “Prime Minister Modi, when you are subjected to abuse, you feel hurt. But even today, you remain silent regarding the abuse being hurled at the girls present at Jantar Mantar,” Gogoi said.

Gogoi also called for a discussion on an alleged “donation theft” matter, adding another layer to his criticisms of the government’s conduct.

(With inputs from ANI)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.