Not interested in fantasy conversations: Rahul Gandhi takes swipe at Amit Shah

Rahul Gandhi dismisses the government's proposed discussion on student issues as a "fantasy conversation", demanding Amit Shah answer whether he authorised police action against protesters."Not interested in fantasy conversations." Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday rejected the government's offer of a discussion on student issues, demanding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah first answer one question: who authorised the alleged firing on protesting students in Delhi?Gandhi said the Opposition's demand was never for Shah to simply come to Parliament and deliver a speech on general issues. It wanted him to clarify whether he ordered the police action against students protesting in Delhi on June 20."The question was never that Mr Amit Shah is going to come and give a speech on some general topics in Parliament. The question was always that Amit Shah has to make it clear who authorised the shooting of our youngsters in Delhi," Gandhi said.He alleged that pellet guns were fired and students were beaten with lathis "with nails on them", and demanded that Shah "come clean". "Did he order it or did he not order it?" Gandhi asked.'IF HE ORDERED IT, HE IS GUILTY'Gandhi went further, saying Shah would bear responsibility if he had ordered the firing, while failure to know about the action would amount to incompetence. "If he ordered it, he is guilty of getting our children shot. And if he didn't know about it happening, he's incompetent. Either way, he should go," Gandhi said.He said the Opposition wanted clarity on whether the Home Minister authorised the action and, if he did not, who within the Ministry of Home Affairs did."Amit Shah does not have the courage to come to the Parliament and stand before us. This is what they have shown in the last 15 days. Neither Narendra Modi nor Amit Shah has the guts," Gandhi said."No one is interested in his opinion; we just want to know who ordered the firing, and if he did not order it, then who in MHA ordered it? We want to understand: is there culpability or incompetence?"The Opposition has accused the Delhi Police of disproportionate action against students protesting under the banner of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on June 20. It has also raised allegations over the use of pellet guns.THREE DEMANDS FROM OPPOSITIONGandhi said the demand for an answer on the alleged firing was one of three issues the Opposition was pressing."First, he should make that abundantly clear. After that, the question of any discussion arises," Gandhi said.He said the second demand was for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise over what had happened.The third, according to Gandhi, concerned allegations of theft from the Ram Mandir."People very close to the Prime Minister have stolen from the Ram Mandir," he alleged."These are the three issues. So now Amit Shah suddenly saying that he is ready to speak. We are not interested in his fantasy conversations. We are interested in whether he authorised or didn't authorise the shooting of our children."Gandhi said the Opposition had been raising these demands for the past 15 days."That is the situation. And that is what the Opposition is demanding. That is what we have been demanding for the last 15 days," he said.'VIOLENCE AGAINST PEACEFULLY PROTESTING STUDENTS IS WRONG'Gandhi also addressed the issue of student protests in Jharkhand, making it clear that the Congress did not support violence against peaceful protesters."My message to the students of Jharkhand is clear. We condemn any violence against peacefully protesting students, regardless of where it occurs. We condemn it; we are against it; we do not endorse or support it," Gandhi said."We are very clear on this, there is no confusion in our minds that attacking a peaceful protest with violence is wrong."He also called on the Jharkhand government to continue engaging with the protesting students."Use of force against students protesting in Jharkhand is wrong," Gandhi said, adding that the state government "must continue to hear protesting students out" and resolve their issues immediately.His comments came as the Opposition continued to press the government over police action against students, while also seeking clarity on other issues it has raised in Parliament.KHARGE: 'WHY WERE PELLET GUNS, TEAR GAS USED?'Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also reiterated the party's demands, saying the first was for Shah to explain the police action against students."Our first demand is that the Union Home Minister comes and tells why pellet guns, tear gas, lathi-charge were used (on students)," Kharge said.Kharge also raised the Ram Mandir issue, alleging that people close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were involved in theft from the temple."Modi ji's trusted trustees committed theft in the Ram Temple. The Opposition parties demanded that the PM himself reveal details about this. But nothing has happened till now," he said.Kharge said the Congress's third demand was for the Prime Minister to apologise to the public over the two issues."The PM & Home Minister have not spoken on these issues in the last 15 days. We are fighting on all these issues," he said.GOVT SAYS SHAH WILL RESPONDThe Opposition's remarks came after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was ready for a detailed discussion on issues concerning students and that Shah would respond to the points raised by the Opposition."The government is ready for a discussion on issues related to students. We are ready and will respond to all the points that will be raised by the Opposition. The Home Minister will respond," Rijiju said.He urged Opposition MPs to allow the discussion to proceed without disruptions."My only point to the Opposition is that while the discussion and a reply are being made, the Opposition should not create disturbances to prevent the statement of the Home Minister," Rijiju said."They must listen to the reply of the Home Minister and the government. Once discussion begins, we must have a threadbare discussion."The Opposition, however, has rejected the idea of treating Shah's proposed response as sufficient, with Gandhi insisting that the Home Minister must first answer whether he authorised the alleged firing.PARLIAMENT REMAINS DEADLOCKEDThe dispute has kept both Houses of Parliament disrupted during the Monsoon Session, which began on July 20.Opposition MPs have repeatedly raised slogans targeting Shah and staged protests at the gates of Parliament, while proceedings in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been repeatedly disrupted.Earlier on Monday, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to direct Shah to make a comprehensive statement on the floor of the House.Venugopal sought answers over what he described as "police atrocities and the use of pellet guns against the youth and students in Delhi", calling the alleged action against "young citizens exercising their democratic rights" a "matter of grave national concern".He also argued that since the Delhi Police functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, the "ultimate responsibility" for the action rests with the Home Minister.With only four days of the Monsoon Session remaining, the continuing deadlock has also left several key legislative measures uncertain, including those concerning women's reservation, delimitation and the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act.The Congress has issued a whip to its MPs in both Houses, asking them to remain present on August 10, August 11 and August 12, citing "very important" issues scheduled for discussion. It has also asked its INDIA bloc allies to ensure that their MPs remain present in Parliament.- EndsPublished On: Aug 10, 2026 18:14 IST