Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has said the government is ready for a detailed discussion in Parliament over the July 20 student protest and the police response in Delhi. He said Home Minister Amit Shah is prepared to respond, even as Rahul Gandhi and other opposition leaders continue to demand accountability and a court-monitored investigation.
Rijiju Says Government Ready for Discussion
Kiren Rijiju said on Monday that the Centre was prepared for a full discussion on the students’ movement and related developments. According to his remarks reported by ANI, the government was willing to allow the issue to be discussed in detail and Home Minister Amit Shah was ready to respond in Parliament.
Rijiju, however, urged opposition MPs not to interrupt the proceedings while Shah gives his response. He argued that members should first listen to the Home Minister and then participate in a detailed debate on the matter. The statement comes after repeated disruptions in Parliament over opposition demands for Shah to address allegations surrounding the police action.
Parliament Faces Pressure Over Student Protest
The political confrontation follows the July 20 demonstration in New Delhi, when protesters attempted to march towards Parliament while demanding action over examination-related controversies, including the NEET paper leak. Police used tear gas and batons to stop demonstrators from advancing, according to reporting on the protest.
The incident has since become a major issue inside Parliament. Opposition members have demanded an explanation from the Home Minister and raised concerns over reports that pellet guns were also used against demonstrators. The protests and subsequent police response have intensified criticism of the government’s handling of student grievances.
Rahul Gandhi Intensifies Attack on Centre
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has accused the government of using excessive force against students who were protesting over concerns about their future and the examination system. Gandhi has alleged that protesters were subjected to pellet guns, tear gas and aggressive baton action, while also questioning why Amit Shah had not earlier addressed Parliament on the controversy.
Gandhi has also claimed that students, including women and minors, suffered serious injuries during the police action. These remain allegations raised by Gandhi and opposition leaders and should be attributed as such rather than presented as independently established facts.
Jantar Mantar Action Fuels Political Standoff
The opposition has repeatedly pushed for parliamentary discussion on the police response. Earlier proceedings in the Rajya Sabha were disrupted as members demanded a statement from Shah, while the House leadership also urged the government to convey the opposition’s demand to the Home Minister.
The dispute has therefore moved beyond the original protest and become a broader confrontation over police accountability, parliamentary debate and the government’s handling of student concerns.
Court Probe Demand Adds Pressure
Rahul Gandhi has demanded an investigation under judicial supervision into the July 20 police action. He has argued that responsibility must be established over who authorised the measures used against the protesters and has continued pressing Shah for answers.
With Rijiju now saying the government is ready for a detailed discussion and Amit Shah prepared to respond, attention is likely to remain on Parliament and whether the debate proceeds without further disruption. The government’s explanation and the opposition’s response could determine the next stage of the political confrontation surrounding the student protests.
