New Delhi: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday defended law enforcement agencies and the administrations in Delhi and Bihar regarding their management of recent large-scale student demonstrations. Addressing allegations of excessive force, the minister asserted that security personnel handled massive assemblies with restraint, preventing fatal outcomes and serious injuries despite widespread agitation over examination irregularities and paper leaks.
Rijiju maintained that despite the significant scale of the protests and alleged infiltration by political agitators seeking to incite unrest, the police response remained measured. He emphasized that no demonstrator suffered broken bones or required hospitalization for critical injuries, noting that minimal force was deployed only when crowds attempted to breach security barricades while marching toward Parliament.
Contrasting current crowd-control measures with historical responses under previous Congress-led administrations, Rijiju pointed to past events such as the Emergency and the Telangana statehood movement, where demonstrations resulted in numerous fatalities from police gunfire. In contrast, he stated that the present handling ensured public order without any lethal force or firing incidents.
The unrest follows heightened student discontent across multiple regions, including Bihar, surrounding the NEET examination controversies and demands for comprehensive educational reforms. Clashes had previously been reported in parts of Bihar, including Siwan, where authorities deployed tear gas following stone-pelting incidents.
Reiterating the central government’s stance, Rijiju affirmed that the administration led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains committed to protecting the interests of the youth. He highlighted recent legislative measures and the establishment of fast-track courts to ensure strict penalties for individuals involved in paper leaks, while maintaining a firm policy against violence during public protests.
