By The Centre has offered to hold a detailed discussion in Parliament on the recent student protests and the police action against demonstrators, including allegations surrounding the use of pellet guns in Delhi and firearms in Bihar. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Monday that Home Minister Amit Shah is prepared to respond, while asking the Opposition to allow the discussion to proceed without disruptions.
The government’s position comes after sustained demands from the Opposition for Shah to address Parliament over the handling of protests linked to alleged examination irregularities. Rijiju said the Centre was willing to discuss the student movement and related developments in detail, but insisted that Opposition members should listen to the government’s response rather than disrupt proceedings.
Rijiju asks Opposition to allow discussion
Rijiju said the government had made its position clear and was ready for a comprehensive debate on the protests and the police response.
He appealed to Opposition parties, including the Congress, not to create a disturbance when the Home Minister or the government responds. According to him, Parliament can properly address the concerns raised by protesters and political parties only if the House is allowed to function.
The offer follows criticism from Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, who questioned the government’s response to the police action in a column published in The Hindu. Gandhi argued that the Home Minister had neither ordered an inquiry nor publicly addressed the allegations surrounding the crackdown.
Rahul Gandhi raises concerns over police action
Gandhi highlighted allegations that protesters in Delhi were subjected to tear gas, baton charges and pellet gun injuries during demonstrations. He also referred to reports of students being injured by firearms during protests in Bihar’s Siwan.
Gandhi said he had met a 19-year-old student protester from Delhi and described the injuries allegedly suffered by him after pellet firing. He also raised concerns over the treatment of women and minors during the demonstrations and questioned who authorised the police response.
The Congress leader has described the alleged use of force as an attack on young people’s right to protest and has sought accountability from the government.
July 20 protests turned violent
The dispute centres on demonstrations in New Delhi on July 20, when a large group of students attempted to march towards Parliament from Jantar Mantar. The situation escalated as police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters, followed by clashes and detentions.
The Opposition has since repeatedly sought a discussion in Parliament on the police response and demanded that the Home Minister make a statement.
Last week, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha and asked Shah to respond to the July 20 police action. Rijiju, however, had argued that the Opposition could not dictate which minister should appear in the House or when.
Government and Opposition remain at odds
Rijiju also defended Shah against criticism over his alleged absence from Parliament. He said the Home Minister regularly comes to the Parliament complex and accused Opposition members of creating disruptions and then leaving before ministers respond.
With the Centre now offering a detailed discussion, the focus is likely to shift to whether the two sides can agree on the terms and conduct of the debate. The Opposition continues to seek answers over the police response, while the government is insisting that the issue be discussed within the framework of parliamentary proceedings.
