Rahul Gandhi questions Amit Shah on student attack order

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has asked Home Minister Amit Shah who ordered the attack on students.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah who ordered the assault on students. Rahul Gandhi, in a letter, has demanded accountability from the government over the excessive use of force on students protesting at Delhi's Jantar Mantar.

In the letter, Rahul Gandhi emphasised that the students were protesting peacefully for a 'fair and accountable education system'. However, instead of listening to them, the government used brutal force against them.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that security forces used 'reckless force' on the protesters, including lethal weapons and tear gas, claiming that hundreds were seriously injured during the action. He stated that pellet guns were also used to suppress the protest, which was the most brutal behaviour of the police action.

Citing media and social media reports, Gandhi mentioned that many people, including a journalist, sustained serious injuries. He also referred to meeting a 19-year-old student, Sahil, who is at risk of losing vision in one eye due to a pellet injury.

Rahul Gandhi clearly stated that the security forces deployed in Delhi ultimately report to the Union Home Ministry. He sought direct answers from Amit Shah on two key issues. First,

he asked whether the Home Minister approved the use of 'lethal force' like pellet guns against the students. If not, who authorised their use?

Secondly, he questioned the identity and authority of those in plain clothes seen beating students with sticks. The letter asked,

"Are the people seen in plain clothes beating students with sticks policemen or volunteers? Who authorised their deployment?"

It should be noted that Rahul Gandhi's letter comes amid the political controversy over police action during student protests in the national capital, with the opposition accusing the government of excessive force, while officials claim measures were taken to maintain law and order in response to the protests. The Union Home Ministry has not yet publicly responded to Rahul Gandhi's letter. It should be noted that a day earlier, Rahul Gandhi had directly blamed Amit Shah for the violence against the protesters.

Hours after the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Gandhi, in a press conference, said that Shah had 'ordered the shooting on students.'

He said,

"We hold Amit Shah directly responsible for the violence against our students. He ordered the shooting on our students. He approved the use of lethal weapons, including pellet guns, against our students."

When the students began their movement at Jantar Mantar, Rahul Gandhi expressed solidarity and support for them. He also sat on a dharna outside the Prime Minister's residence. Delhi Police detained him.