New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stating that the Opposition is not interested in listening to his “lecture” in Parliament regarding recent student protests. Addressing the media, Gandhi asserted that the youth of the country demand direct accountability over who authorized the use of pellet guns against protesting students.
Rebuffing Shah’s offer for a continuous 24-hour parliamentary debate, Gandhi argued that the Home Minister bears direct responsibility for the actions taken by law enforcement agencies. He stated that if Shah ordered the use of pellet guns against students, he is culpable, and if the action was taken without his authorization, it indicates administrative incompetence, demanding his immediate resignation in either scenario.
The Congress leader dismissed the Home Minister’s willingness to engage in a extended debate from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday, describing it as an attempt to divert attention from government shortcomings. Gandhi remarked that the political stature of the Home Minister had been compromised, claiming that efforts to rebuild his image had failed amidst widespread public dissatisfaction over the handling of student demonstrations.
The Opposition’s refusal to accept the debate terms follows Shah’s challenge to initiate a structured 24-hour discussion in the Lok Sabha provided the Opposition submitted a formal request to Speaker Om Birla. With both sides maintaining unyielding positions, parliamentary deadlocks persist as the Opposition continues its demand for direct accountability rather than scheduled ministerial statements.
