Is Amit Shah truly seeking a debate in Parliament?
Who ordered the police to use batons and pellet guns on students during the peaceful Parliament march on July 20?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah wanted to engage in a 24-hour debate in the Lok Sabha to answer the opposition's questions. Or perhaps he was looking for an opportunity to set a new record for the longest debate in the Lok Sabha. It is noteworthy that the previous record was set in the Rajya Sabha on 3rd April 2025, during the conclusion of the Budget Session, when a 17-hour debate took place on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025. At that time, Jagdish Dhankhar was the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. The debate started at 11 a.m. on 3rd April and continued until 4:02 a.m. the next day.
However, the big question is that the opposition has asked just one question to Home Minister Shah. The question is straightforward:
On whose orders did the police use batons on students during the peaceful Parliament march on 20th July, fire pellet guns, and hit girls on their private parts with sticks? Under whose instructions does the Delhi Police operate? Did Home Minister Amit Shah order the firing on students or not? If he did, he is guilty and should resign, and if he did not, he is incompetent. The Delhi Police does not follow his orders.
It is evident that the request for time to debate in the Lok Sabha was made just to seize the opportunity to set a record for a long debate. Because the discussion would only revolve around what the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 is. How the government is going to implement comprehensive reforms for examinations free of malpractice. In other words, the same old government rhetoric.
In fact, Shah is cornered by the opposition's questions. Especially with the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, continuously attacking him, he is unable to respond. And now that Lady Hardinge Medical College has also confirmed that 10 protesting students were injured by pellet guns on 20th July and were admitted to the hospital, what clarity could Amit Shah bring in Parliament?
Moreover, a diary entry filed by the Rapid Action Force (RAF) at the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi has revealed that two rounds of firing with pellet guns were ordered by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer on 20th July. It is clear that Amit Shah is speechless in the face of the opposition's questions and would only mislead the people by giving a 24-hour speech in Parliament.
It is noteworthy that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had offered the opposition 24 hours to participate in a detailed discussion in Parliament on Wednesday. He said he was ready to answer all questions and, if necessary, would remain in the House all night. However, the relief was that after the opposition's uproar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned Parliament until 11 a.m. on Thursday.
Outside Parliament, Shah emphasized that,
there are established rules and procedures in parliamentary proceedings for discussing serious issues, and such matters cannot be adequately discussed through a brief statement. The Home Minister also said that if the Lok Sabha Speaker permits, he is ready to suspend Question Hour for the discussion. He stated that he is prepared to sit in the House throughout the debate until 3 p.m. on Thursday, take note of the issues raised by opposition members, and respond to each of them.
According to Shah, a detailed discussion in Parliament will provide an opportunity to present the facts before the country and clarify the circumstances related to this issue. He also challenged the opposition to decide whether it wants to engage in meaningful and detailed debate in Parliament or continue to create disruptions in the House.
Remaining silent since 20th July and then talking about debate a day before the end of the Parliament session clearly indicates that the intention is not to discuss but to create a perception in the media that the government wanted to debate, but the opposition was not ready.