The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday mounted a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after he alleged in the Lok Sabha that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had authorised police firing
on student protesters during the nationwide anti-paper leak agitation.
Leading the government’s response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju termed the allegation “baseless” and demanded that Gandhi either substantiate the charge or apologise to the House.
“On what basis have you made the charge that the Home Minister ordered the firing? This is a breach of privilege by the Leader of the Opposition,” Rijiju said during the debate.
Calling the allegation a “very serious matter”, he said Gandhi must explain the basis of his claim. “The Leader of the Opposition has made a direct charge against the Home Minister. It is a baseless charge. Rahul Gandhi should apologise and take back his words,” Rijiju said.
He repeatedly challenged Gandhi to produce evidence supporting his allegation. “Please show the order of the Home Minister. Tell us which officer told you this. What is the basis of Rahul Gandhi’s allegation?” he asked.
Rijiju also said the government would not allow “baseless allegations” to be made against the Home Minister on the floor of Parliament. “If Rahul Gandhi does not want to speak, let it be. But he cannot make wrong statements in the House,” the minister added.
The confrontation followed Rahul Gandhi’s speech during the debate on the nationwide student protests over competitive examination paper leaks. Gandhi had alleged that Shah had authorised the police action against protesters, triggering loud protests from the Treasury benches and demands that he withdraw the remark.
Questioning Shah’s absence from the House, Gandhi said: “The Home Minister doesn’t have the courage to sit here because he is scared.”
When asked by Rijiju to take back his comments on Shah, Gandhi said the brutal use of force on students can “only be authorised by the Home Minister”, again leading to strong protests from treasury benches.
The exchange further escalated the political confrontation between the Treasury and Opposition benches over the handling of the student protests and the police crackdown that followed.
