Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi launched a direct attack on the Union Government on Wednesday, accusing Home Minister Amit Shah of being responsible for police action against student protesters. Addressing a press conference alongside students involved in the demonstrations, Gandhi alleged that young protesters were subjected to harassment, intimidation, and physical assault for raising demands against examination paper leaks and advocating for education reforms.
During the briefing, several student protesters shared their experiences, alleging excessive force by law enforcement personnel, including lathi-charges, the use of tear gas, and pellet gun injuries. Gandhi praised the courage of the students present, asserting that they displayed greater bravery than top government leadership in speaking out against systemic issues. He reiterated that the students had committed no crime and were simply fighting for a secure and transparent educational system.
The Congress leader also addressed recent controversies surrounding viral videos and police complaints against protesters, noting that public apologies had been issued and complaints withdrawn in certain cases. Sharping his criticism, Gandhi questioned the Home Minister's absence from parliamentary discussions on the matter and emphasized that the Opposition would continue to press for accountability and justice for the affected students.