‘Amit Shah can’t keep hiding’: Cong vs BJP showdown over Jantar Mantar police action escalates

The Congress on Thursday stepped up its attack in Parliament on Union Home Minister Amit Shah over Delhi Police’s crackdown on protesters in Jantar Mantar last week, saying he “cannot stay hidden forever” and would be “dragged out”, remarks the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed “unparliamentary”.The police crackdown took place on July 20. (ANI)“They are firing pellet guns at children who have come from villages and other states. One has lost an eye, another has lost an ear, someone else has lost a hand. Who is responsible for that? The Home Minister is responsible,” Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said in the House.He was referring to the alleged police excesses against protesters, which also comprised students, during the Jantar Mantar agitation against NEET paper leak on July 20. Opposition MPs, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, have accused Shah of issuing orders to the security personnel to use lethal force against the protesters.“You (Shah) may be listening to me from behind closed doors, but you cannot remain hidden in a closed room forever. One day, we will drag you out,” he said.Kharge’s remarks were, however, interrupted by Union Minister JP Nadda who took strong objection to the former’s remarks. “He cannot use such unparliamentary words,” Nadda said, addressing the Chair.As the remarks sparked an uproar in the Upper House, the Congress leader said he “did not use any parliamentary language”. “By ‘us’, I meant, ‘janshakti’ (power of people) – people, students and women. I did not say I will drag the home minister. I meant the ‘janshakti’ will drag him out. Listen to me and reply,” he said.Both inside Parliament and outside on Wednesday, Gandhi sought to blame Shah over allegations that security forces brutalised student protesters during the march to Parliament last week. The government hit back, saying no bullets were fired and calling Gandhi’s charges baseless.The dramatic exchanges came during the debate on a stringent new bill that aims for stricter punishment and time-bound trials for people accused of exam paper leaks. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 – which overhauls the original legislation of 2024 – was passed in a voice vote after a 10-hour-long debate that saw protests, adjournments and a war of words. Gandhi accused Shah – under whose ministry the Delhi Police functions – of ordering pellet guns to be fired on students. In response, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said no bullet was fired and only tear gas was used.Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tried to come to Gandhi’s rescue and said, if the LoP made an allegation, the government should clarify who ordered firing. Gandhi added that the use of force “could only be authorised by either the prime minister or the home minister,” triggering another round of protests.“It is a serious allegation and a breach of his (Shah’s) privilege. Rahul Gandhi must apologise and take back your words. On what basis could you level this allegation? How did you know?” said parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju.The controversy over the conduct of security forces during the July 20 protest has only escalated after the student stir at Jantar Mantar was called off last week following the resignation of Pradhan. At least two rounds of pellets were used on July 20 on the orders of a deputy superintendent of the Delhi Police, according to the statement of a deputy commander of the Rapid Action Force (RAF) recorded in a general diary entry at the Parliament Street police station.The diary entry – filed at 1.24am on July 22 by a Delhi Police sub-inspector and seen by HT – is the first document that shows the usage of pellets during a sprawling student march to Parliament on July 20. It is unclear if the forces used metallic or plastic pellets – both of which are available in the inventory. RAF is a specialised unit within the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed to handle riots and other public disturbances across the country. CRPF has already instituted an inquiry into the allegations.