Congress President Demands Accountability from Home Minister Amid Student Protests

Opposition Ready to Collaborate for Smooth Parliamentary Proceedings

On Thursday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the opposition is willing to assist in ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament. However, he emphasized the necessity for Home Minister Amit Shah to address the House regarding the alleged police brutality against students, including the use of pellet guns and tear gas. Kharge accused the government of evading accountability, as the opposition has been demanding a statement from the Home Minister on this issue for the past 15 days.

During a press conference, Kharge condemned the violent actions taken against peacefully protesting students, questioning who ordered the police to use batons, the directive for firing pellet guns, and the rationale behind deploying tear gas. He insisted, "The Home Minister must come to the House and provide answers to these questions."

Kharge pointed out that despite the ongoing parliamentary session for the last 15 days, neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Home Minister Amit Shah has attended. He interpreted this absence as either a disregard for Parliament or fear of facing the assembly.

The Congress leader claimed that while Prime Minister Modi has stated he has forgiven the students, it is actually the government that needs to apologize. He urged the government to acknowledge its mistakes and seek forgiveness from the students and their families. Kharge reiterated that the opposition desires a functional Parliament where the Home Minister can present his side of the events, allowing the public to receive answers from the government through the legislative process.

Additionally, he mentioned that opposition MPs had previously discussed this matter with the Rajya Sabha Chairman, who acknowledged the need for the Home Minister's statement. However, he claimed that interruptions occurred during this discussion. Kharge accused the ruling party members of creating disturbances whenever he attempts to speak in the House, asserting that the government is responsible for any disruptions in parliamentary proceedings.