Rahul Gandhi demands answers from Amit Shah, not speeches

Rahul Gandhi insists on answers from the Home Minister regarding police actions, not speeches.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has offered to debate in Parliament late into the night to answer every question posed by the opposition. He proposed a debate from 3 PM on Wednesday to 3 PM on Thursday to the opposition MPs. However, this proposal was rejected by the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi stated that the opposition does not want a speech from the Home Minister but answers regarding police action against students.

Rahul Gandhi said,

The opposition has clearly stated that we are not interested in listening to Amit Shah's lecture. When I say 'we', I mean the young generation of this country. Who fired at the students? Who ordered the students to be beaten with spiked sticks? Did Amit Shah order our children to be shot? If he did, he should resign.

Rahul Gandhi said, for the last 20 days, Amit Shah has been missing. The Home Minister of India does not have the courage to come to the House. He further said, "Did Home Minister Amit Shah order our children to be shot or not? If he did, he is guilty, and if he did not, he is incompetent."

The opposition has been continuously demanding that Shah be present in Parliament and make a statement on police excesses against students. Earlier on Wednesday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, along with opposition MPs, protested in the Parliament complex over the theft of offerings at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and police excesses against student protesters. Priyanka Gandhi also questioned the government over the use of force against students.

Priyanka Gandhi said,

According to you, who is responsible for this? When you baton-charge students, use pellet guns against them, and use AK-47s on them in Bihar, are you (Home Minister Amit Shah) not accountable to the public? Should we sit silently like you people (media)?

It should be noted that Shah's offer came at a time when the opposition is demanding a statement from him in Parliament regarding police action during the students' march on the NEET paper leak issue on July 20. Speaking to journalists, Shah dismissed the opposition's allegations that he has been absent from Parliament. He said the government is ready for a detailed discussion on this issue.

Shah said,

First of all, words like 'missing', 'ran away' have become common in India's public and parliamentary life. Since the session began, I have been regularly attending Parliament. I sit in my chamber, but when the opposition is not allowing Parliament to function in both Houses, what can one do?

He stated that Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has already clarified that the government is ready for a full discussion on the students' protest. Shah said, "We have said that a time should be fixed, and the opposition should be ready for the discussion. Initially, this was their demand, and we accepted it. I have also said that I am ready to answer any question in Parliament, but they do not want the discussion to happen."

It is noteworthy that the opposition has been protesting for more than three weeks, demanding Shah's presence and statement in the House. Despite the government's offer for debate and Shah's response, the deadlock has not ended. The Congress has stated that the Home Minister should specifically clarify who ordered the use of pellet guns against students. The Congress has also said it will not back down from demanding a discussion on the theft of offerings at the Ram Temple.

Earlier on Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government is ready for a detailed discussion on the students' protest. He urged the opposition not to disrupt proceedings when Shah responds. Rijiju said, "The government's offer is very clear. The government is ready for a full and detailed discussion on the student movement and related activities."

He further said, "My only appeal to the opposition is that when the discussion takes place and a response is being given, they should not create disruptions to stop the Home Minister's statement. They should listen to the response of the Home Minister and the government. Once the discussion begins, every aspect should be discussed in detail." Rijiju's remarks came after Rahul Gandhi criticized the central government over police action during the students' protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20 and demanded a court-monitored investigation.

During the Monsoon Session, the proceedings of Parliament have been repeatedly disrupted. Several bills have also been passed in the Lok Sabha amid the ongoing deadlock between the government and the opposition.