Amit Shah authorised shooting of students: Lok Sabha erupts
Indiadailyupdate.com – Home Minister Amit Shah authorised shooting of students, according to a bold claim made by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi during a heated Lok Sabha session on Wednesday. The opposition leader accused the home minister of personally approving the use of lethal force against student demonstrators during recent protests. This dramatic allegation emerged amid discussions on proposed amendments to legislation addressing academic paper leaks across the country.
Gandhi’s Accusations Against the Home Minister
During his parliamentary intervention, Gandhi suggested that Shah’s absence from the chamber was driven by fear rather than legitimate commitments. The opposition leader noted he had personally observed the minister’s vehicle procession and described seeing Shah seated within, appearing visibly unsettled by the proceedings. Gandhi emphasized that the home minister’s demeanor indicated guilt regarding the student protests.
“The home minister is not here today because he is scared,” Gandhi declared with conviction. “The Home Minister is scared; he authorised the shooting of our students. He put pellets into the blood of our students; he ordered the students of India to be shot.”
These powerful statements referenced the security forces’ response during the July 20 demonstration, when students marched toward Parliament under the banner of the Central Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Federation. The protesters sought to voice their concerns about irregularities in the NEET examination, one of India’s most competitive medical entrance tests.
Parliamentary Response and Objections
Both the Speaker and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister moved swiftly to curb what they viewed as excessive claims. Kiren Rijiju challenged Gandhi directly, questioning the foundation of such a weighty accusation coming from the opposition’s top position. The minister emphasized that such allegations required proper evidence and should not be made lightly.
“How can you say this? You are the LoP. On what basis are you levelling this allegation? What you said is wrong. I object, and this should be expunged. Rahul Gandhi should apologise as this is a serious allegation and a breach of his own position and privilege,” Rijiju stated firmly.
Speaker Om Birla also stepped in, reminding the house that the current debate focused on legislative matters rather than ministerial conduct. He requested that Gandhi present evidence to support his assertions before the matter could be properly addressed. The speaker’s intervention highlighted the procedural importance of maintaining decorum during parliamentary proceedings.
Broader Critique of Educational Influence
Expanding beyond the immediate incident, Gandhi directed criticism toward the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, arguing that the organization wielded disproportionate control over India’s educational framework. He contended that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan served merely as a figurehead while the RSS dictated policy direction. This broader critique connected the student protests to larger concerns about educational governance.
“The soul of the system has been captured by the RSS. Dharmendra Pradhan never ran the education ministry. The man and organisation that run the ministry is called the RSS. They (students) have to buy this nonsensical history that RSS fantasises about. Pradhan is the symbol. Your real enemy is the RSS. They are the people who want you to be andhbhakts,” Gandhi explained.
Student Protests as Democratic Expression
Despite the parliamentary friction, Gandhi expressed genuine admiration for the young demonstrators. He characterized their actions as a mature manifestation of civic engagement rather than disruptive behavior. The opposition leader emphasized that the students’ peaceful protest represented the voice of India’s future generation.
“I was very excited, reassured by what the future of this country did on our streets. This was not anger, not violence, not hatred; this was an expression, deep expressions of the youth of this country, of the future generation of this country.”
The opposition leader urged all political factions, including BJP members, to recognize the legitimacy of student concerns. He suggested that if BJP leaders consulted their own families about the demonstrations, they would likely discover alignment with their children’s perspectives. This appeal aimed to bridge political divides and validate the students’ grievances.
“All parties should respect this expression, including my friends in the BJP. If my friends in the BJP were to go and ask their own children about what their brothers and sisters were doing, they would find agreement among their own children. There is nothing wrong with what happened, and every Indian should be proud,” he concluded.
