New Delhi: Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday stepped up his attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police excesses against students during their July 20 protest march to Parliament.
Addressing a press conference, Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Shah from office and order an independent, Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the incident.
Gandhi alleged that the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF), both under the Union Home Ministry, used excessive force against protesters, including pellet guns and lathis. He held the Home Minister directly responsible for the alleged crackdown.
According to Gandhi, there were only two possibilities: either the Home Minister had ordered the action or he was unaware of it.
“If he ordered it, he is culpable. If he did not know, then he is incompetent. In either case, he has to go,” Gandhi said.
Referring to the alleged police brutality during the July 20 demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, Gandhi said the students were peacefully raising questions before the government but were instead subjected to violence and shot at with pellet guns.
Gandhi said he had written to Shah on July 25 seeking clarification on whether the use of pellet guns had been authorised, but claimed he had received no response.
The Congress leader also accused the government of attempting to suppress dissent. In this context, Gandhi said he was prevented from speaking in the Lok Sabha and was asked to apologise for his remarks against Shah.
“I will never apologise to the BJP-RSS,” he asserted, maintaining that it was his responsibility to raise issues concerning students.
Gandhi also promised justice for those allegedly assaulted during the protest. He said the Opposition had collected photographic and video evidence that identified police personnel allegedly involved in the crackdown.
He also questioned the role of individuals in plain clothes who were seen during the operation.
With IANS inputs