Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has launched a sharp attack on the government following the recent security action against students at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. Addressing a formal letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Congress leader demanded absolute accountability for the police action during the 'Parliament March' held on July 20, 2026. He questioned the authorization behind the baton charge and tear gas deployment against the marching students, raising serious concerns over who issued the orders to assault them.
Demands for Accountability and Democratic Rights
The protest, which took place in the heart of the national capital, saw students gathering in large numbers to voice their grievances. According to the opposition leader, the students were merely exercising their constitutional rights when they were intercepted by security forces. The subsequent deployment of tear gas and batons transformed a peaceful assembly into a chaotic and violent scene, leading to the hospitalization of numerous participants.
In his communication to the Union Home Minister, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi emphasized that peaceful assembly and dissent are foundational to a functional democracy. He expressed deep distress that students seeking an equitable and accountable educational infrastructure were met with physical hostility instead of dialogue. In his letter, which he also shared as a wrote on X, he asserted,
"peaceful protest is essential for any democracy."He added that the severe violence displayed by the security forces violated established norms, triggering widespread public outrage across the country.
Severe Injuries and the Use of Pellet Guns
Elaborating on the nature of the confrontation, the opposition leader detailed the alleged excesses committed by the security personnel at the demonstration site. He stated that the forces resorted to indiscriminate violence, deploying dangerous weapons and tear gas, which left hundreds of students with serious physical injuries. Furthermore, he highlighted reports of physical harassment faced by female students, alleging that police personnel targeted them during the clampdown.
The Congress leader highlighted the highly concerning deployment of pellet guns against the protestors. Citing accounts circulated in the media and on social platforms, he pointed out that multiple individuals, including a member of the press, sustained severe wounds due to pellet fire. He specifically shared his experience of meeting Sahil Lochab, a 19-year-old student who suffered pellet wounds. Rahul Gandhi noted that the teenager is currently enduring immense physical pain and is facing the tragic possibility of losing sight in one of his eyes.
Direct Questions Posed to Amit Shah
Since the security apparatus in Delhi functions directly under the jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry, the Leader of the Opposition placed the responsibility squarely on Amit Shah. He concluded his letter with two specific and direct inquiries
- First: As the Home Minister, did you personally authorize the use of lethal force against the demonstrating students? If this directive did not originate from your office, which authority sanctioned it?
- Second: Who were the individuals wearing civilian clothes who were seen physically assaulting students with sticks? Were they police officers operating in plain clothes or external volunteers, and who authorized their deployment at the protest site?
Concluding his letter, Rahul Gandhi stressed that the nation's youth and student community are steadfastly demanding justice and accountability, and their voices cannot be ignored.
