New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police action against student protesters, accusing the government of trying to protect its political image instead of taking responsibility for the treatment of demonstrators.
Gandhi claimed that the image built around Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been “destroyed” and would not be easily restored. He also said that neither Modi nor Shah could escape the consequences of decisions taken under their leadership.
The Congress leader’s remarks came amid a continuing political confrontation over the alleged police “brutalities” against students during a protest in Delhi. Gandhi has alleged that protesters, including women and minors, were subjected to tear gas, lathi-charge and pellet guns during the police action. The government’s handling of the episode has become a major point of attack for the Opposition.
Gandhi also questioned Shah’s absence from Parliament on the issue and demanded that the Union Home Minister provide an explanation. According to Gandhi, the government should answer questions surrounding the police action rather than attempting to avoid accountability.
In a social media post, the Congress leader argued that significant resources had been spent over the years in building a strong political image of the Prime Minister and Home Minister. He alleged that the treatment of protesting students had damaged that carefully constructed image.
Gandhi further warned that the country’s youth would remember the incident and hold political leaders accountable. He maintained that those responsible for the alleged actions would eventually have to answer for them.
The remarks have added another layer to the ongoing political tension between the Congress-led Opposition and the BJP-led government. The Opposition has repeatedly sought a discussion in Parliament on the police action and has demanded accountability from the Centre.
The BJP and the government have faced sustained criticism from Opposition parties over the handling of protests, while the ruling side has maintained its own position on the issues being raised in Parliament.
Gandhi’s latest comments indicate that the Congress intends to keep the issue alive both inside and outside Parliament, with student rights, police conduct and government accountability emerging as central themes of its criticism.
The controversy comes at a time when Parliament is witnessing repeated political confrontations between the government and Opposition, with several contentious issues contributing to disruptions and heightened tensions.
