New Delhi: Escalating the political showdown over the recent police crackdown on student protesters, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has dashed off a strongly worded letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. In the letter, Gandhi demanded strict accountability for what he termed a “barbaric assault” on students who were peacefully demonstrating in the national capital on July 20.
The protests, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and prominent activists, had culminated in a “Sansad Chalo” (March to Parliament) rally. The students were demanding a fair and transparent education system amid widespread allegations of examination paper leaks. The situation turned volatile when Delhi Police and security forces allegedly resorted to lathi charges, tear gas, and pellet guns to disperse the agitating crowd, resulting in injuries on both sides.
In his letter, dated July 25 and shared on social media, the Congress leader raised severe allegations regarding the conduct of the security personnel. He stated that instead of addressing the genuine grievances of the youth, the forces used indiscriminate and lethal force.
“Hundreds have suffered serious injuries. Women students have been assaulted by policemen, including by deliberately targeting their private parts. Most shocking has been the use of lethal pellet guns,” Gandhi wrote. He specifically highlighted the case of 19 year old Sahil Lochab, a student who suffered severe eye injuries from a pellet gun and risks losing his vision.
Directing his questions at the Home Ministry, which controls the Delhi Police, Gandhi asked two pointed questions: “As Home Minister, did you approve the use of lethal force including pellet guns against students? If not, who did? Are the people in plain clothes seen beating students with lathis police personnel or volunteers? Who authorized their deployment?”
The Congress leader emphasized that peaceful protests are the bedrock of any functioning democracy. He argued that it is the government’s constitutional duty to protect demonstrators and resolve their issues through constructive dialogue, rather than brute force.
This development follows the recent resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who stepped down amid the relentless nationwide protests. Political observers predict that the issue will trigger massive uproar when Parliament reconvenes, with the opposition alliance planning to confront the ruling government and demand a formal apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.