New Delhi (India) July 26: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the opposition has requested an explanation from the government regarding the application of excessive force on protesting students, who were present at Jantar Mantar (Delhi) from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Gandhi clarified that students were protesting for a fair and accountable education system in a peaceful manner, but were instead met with a barbaric display of brute force.
Gandhi Condemns Force On Peaceful Students
Rahul Gandhi stated that forces, through excessive brute force, employed lethal weapons and tear gas on the crowd, injuring hundreds. He went on to describe how women students were targeted by policemen in particularly offensive ways, as well as claiming that the use of pellet guns to stop the student movement was the most shocking part.
Gandhi said, "Security forces deployed in Delhi answer ultimately to you, so I ask:1. As Home Minister, did you approve the use of lethal force including pellet guns against students? If not, who did? 2. Are the people in plain clothes seen beating students with lathis police personnel or volunteers? Who authorized their deployment?"
"Peaceful protest is crucial to any democracy. It is the government's responsibility to protect protestors and resolve their grievances through dialogue. Such brutal violence destroys every norm, and has outraged the country. Youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard," he added.
Rahul Questions Pellet Gun Use On Protesters
Gandhi mentioned seeing some of the injured including a journalist and a 19-year-old student, Sahil Lochab, who is suspected to lose an eye after being hit by a pellet gun.
"Sahil was standing with the Tricolour in his hand, merely asking for a clean, fair exam and the fruit of his hard work--the police raised a gun and badly injured him by firing pellets. This is not British tyranny; it is the brutality of the Modi government in independent India--where innocent students demanding their rights receive pellets instead of justice," Gandhi said.
CJP's Campaign Over NEET Paper Leak
Mr. Gandhi's letter is being written in a political context of student protests in India, where students claim they are being dealt with harshly by security forces and authorities claim law and order has been maintained. So far there has been no official response from the Union Home Ministry to Mr. Gandhi's letter.
The protests were initiated by the CJP which claims to be the platform against the NEET paper leak, run by Abhijeet Dipke. The protests originally started June 20th, but had nationwide support by June 28th, after the famous activist, Sonam Wangchuk, led the movement by starting a hunger strike with 6 AISA activists. This hunger strike ended on Thursday night after the Centre intervened.