By Janpath News Network
Opposition Raises Questions Over Command Responsibility
New Delhi, July 29: Parliament witnessed one of its most explosive confrontations of the Monsoon Session on Wednesday after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of bearing responsibility for the police crackdown on student protesters during the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march in Delhi.
The remarks came during the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, legislation introduced in response to the nationwide outrage over alleged paper leaks in competitive examinations, particularly NEET-UG.
Thousands of students, led largely by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and backed by education activist Sonam Wangchuk, had taken to the streets demanding accountability for repeated examination scandals. Their movement intensified over weeks, culminating in the July 20 march toward Parliament.
The protest descended into violent clashes after sections of the crowd allegedly pelted stones and damaged vehicles. Security forces responded with lathi charges, tear gas and other crowd-control measures. Official records later confirmed that Rapid Action Force personnel fired limited rounds of plastic pellet munitions on the instructions of a Delhi Police Deputy Commissioner. Several students sustained serious injuries, including eye wounds, triggering petitions before the Supreme Court and renewed debate over the proportionality of force used against demonstrators.
During Wednesday’s debate, Gandhi alleged that the Home Minister had “authorised the shooting of students” and accused the government of responding to the aspirations of India’s youth with violence instead of justice. Treasury benches erupted in protest, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding an apology and describing the accusation as grave and baseless. The uproar forced repeated disruptions and adjournments.
No public evidence has emerged showing that Amit Shah personally ordered security forces to fire on students or authorised the use of pellet munitions. The documented operational decision to deploy plastic pellets was made at the field level by Delhi Police officials. However, the Opposition argues that because Delhi Police and central paramilitary forces operate under the Union Home Ministry, the political leadership bears ultimate responsibility for the conduct of the agencies under its control.
The confrontation has transformed the debate beyond exam reforms into a larger national argument over democratic protest, police accountability, and the government’s handling of student dissent. While the government maintains that security forces acted lawfully amid violence on the streets, the Opposition insists that the injuries suffered by students demand political answers at the highest level.
