12 August,2026 01:49 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Rahul Gandhi. File pic
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's offer of a debate on the student protests, saying the Opposition was not interested in "imagination or lectures" and instead wanted answers on the police action against protesting students.
Speaking to reporters on the Parliament premises, Gandhi reiterated his demand that Shah take responsibility for the police action during the students' protest march. He said the younger generation wanted to know who had ordered the police to use force against them.
His remarks came shortly after Shah offered to hold a discussion on the students' protest at Jantar Mantar and said he was "ready to answer everything" regarding the police action against students during their July 20 Parliament march over the NEET paper leak issue.
Gandhi said the Opposition had already made its position clear and was seeking answers to specific questions about the police action against students.
"Kharge ji and I have held press conferences, and the other Opposition parties have also made it clear that we are not interested in listening to Amit Shah's imagination; we are not interested in him giving us a lecture. We are interested in one simple thing; and when we say 'we', we mean the younger generation of this country, -- Who shot those students? Who blinded one of the students? Who gave the order to beat the students with lathis?"
The Congress leader said the central issue was accountability for the alleged use of force against the protesters rather than a wider political exchange between the government and Opposition.
Gandhi also questioned journalists about their approach to the debate offer and asked why they did not challenge Shah in the same manner when he addressed the media.
"You keep interrupting us, always. Do you interrupt them when he speaks? Why don't you ask questions to him? The whole media stands before him like a mouse," Rahul claimed.
"Students are not frightened, you also must not be fearful," he added.
Gandhi's comments came amid an ongoing standoff between the government and Opposition over the police action against students who participated in the protest march.
Gandhi further argued that the Delhi Police comes under the control of the Union Home Ministry and said Shah should therefore accept responsibility for the action against the protesters.
"Did Mr Amit Shah give this order to shoot our children or did he not? If he did, then he should resign because he is culpable. And if he did not, he should resign because he is incompetent," the LoP said.
Gandhi also criticised Shah over his attendance in Parliament and alleged that the Home Minister had been absent from the House for an extended period.
"He was absent for 20 days. He used to come here (on the Parliament premises). Thirty cars around Amit Shah. You go near his home, there will be 1000 police officials to ensure no student wanders in," Gandhi further claimed.
"Amit Shah has no courage. The Home Minister of India has no courage; he cannot come to the House," he added.
The allegations made by Gandhi were not independently verified.
The Opposition has repeatedly raised questions over Shah's absence from the House and sought a statement from the government on the police action against students who took part in the protest march.
The disagreement has contributed to repeated disruptions in Parliament, with the Opposition pressing for a discussion on the issue.
The protests were held in connection with the NEET paper leak issue, with students marching towards Parliament on July 20.
Speaking to reporters on the Parliament premises, Shah rejected the Opposition's allegation that he was avoiding Parliament and said he had been regularly attending the ongoing Monsoon Session.
The Home Minister said Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had already made it clear that the government was prepared to hold a detailed discussion on the students' protests.
Shah said the government had accepted the Opposition's original demand for a discussion and maintained that he himself had made it clear that he was prepared to answer questions on the matter in Parliament.
The exchange between Gandhi and Shah comes as the government and Opposition remain divided over the police action against the protesting students and the manner in which the issue should be discussed in Parliament.
While Gandhi has demanded accountability for the alleged use of force, Shah has maintained that the government is ready to address the Opposition's questions through a discussion in the House.
(With inputs from IANS)
