Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday intensified his criticism of the Central Government by demanding accountability for the alleged police action against students during recent protests. Speaking outside Parliament alongside senior Congress leaders, Rahul Gandhi questioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah over who authorized the police crackdown on demonstrators.
Holding a poster that read “WHO GAVE THE ORDER?”, featuring the image of an injured protester, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of suppressing the democratic rights of students instead of addressing their concerns. He urged the government to answer what he described as the nation’s most important question regarding the incidents.
In a statement directed at the Home Minister, Rahul Gandhi said:
“Mr. Amit Shah, don’t hide. Answer the nation’s question in Parliament—who gave the order to attack the students?”
The Congress alleged that students protesting against examination-related issues and recruitment irregularities were subjected to excessive police force. According to the party, peaceful demonstrators were dispersed through baton charges, tear gas, and other crowd-control measures, resulting in injuries to several protesters.
Rahul Gandhi stated that students were exercising their democratic right to protest and deserved to be heard rather than confronted with police action. He demanded a transparent investigation into the incidents and sought clarity on the chain of command that led to the deployment of force against demonstrators.
Senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, participated in the protest outside Parliament, holding placards and demanding justice for the injured students. The protest formed part of the party’s broader campaign seeking accountability over the handling of recent student demonstrations.
The Congress has called for:
- A judicial or independent inquiry into the police action.
- Identification of the officials responsible for authorizing the use of force.
- Accountability for any excessive use of force against peaceful protesters.
- Protection of students’ constitutional right to peaceful protest.
Government’s Response
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rejected the Congress’ allegations, accusing Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of politicizing the issue. BJP leaders have maintained that law enforcement agencies acted in accordance with legal procedures to maintain public order and ensure security during the demonstrations.
Government representatives have also stated that police actions were undertaken based on the prevailing law-and-order situation and have denied allegations of targeting students for political reasons.
Current Status
As of now, no official investigation has publicly identified any specific individual who ordered the alleged police action against students. There has been no judicial finding or official report naming a person responsible for issuing such an order.
The issue remains the subject of political debate in Parliament, with the Opposition demanding greater transparency and accountability, while the government continues to defend the actions of law enforcement agencies.
The slogan “Who Gave the Order?” has become a central theme of the Congress Party’s campaign, symbolizing its demand for an official explanation regarding the decision-making process behind the police response to the student protests.
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