Rahul Gandhi Demands Amit Shah's Resignation Over Delhi Protest Crackdown

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has vehemently demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of direct responsibility for alleged police brutality during student protests in Delhi on July 20, 2026. Gandhi's demands, made on July 29, 2026, in Parliament and subsequently at a press conference, have ignited a significant political confrontation with the Narendra Modi-led government. The protests, primarily involving students demonstrating against the alleged NEET paper leak, saw thousands march towards Parliament. Rahul Gandhi alleged that the students faced a 'brutal attack' and that security forces used 'lethal weapons' such as pellet guns, shock batons, and 'lathis with nails' against them. He claimed to possess AIIMS medical certificates for injured students and videos showing police assaulting women and minors. Gandhi stated that one 19-year-old student, Sahil Lochab, was likely to lose an eye due to pellet gun injuries. He asserted that the Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force, both reporting to the Union Home Ministry, were involved in the crackdown. In his forceful arguments, Gandhi presented two possibilities for Amit Shah's alleged culpability: either Shah directly ordered the use of such force, making him 'culpable of brutalisation' of youngsters, or he was unaware of the police actions, rendering him 'incompetent'. In either scenario, Gandhi argued, Shah should be sacked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also called for an independent Supreme Court-monitored probe into the alleged police brutality. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swiftly and strongly rejected all of Rahul Gandhi's allegations, accusing him of spreading misinformation and attempting to mislead the House and the public. BJP leaders, including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and spokesperson Sambit Patra, countered that no bullets or pellet guns were fired at the protesters, and that only tear gas was used. Sambit Patra specifically debunked Gandhi's claims, stating that the decision regarding the use of force during protests is typically made by the area magistrate on the spot, in conjunction with security personnel, and not by the Union Home Minister. Patra also accused Gandhi of insulting students by categorizing them into 'students', 'idiots', and 'andhbhakt' (blind devotees) during his parliamentary speech and demanded an apology for using 'unparliamentary' language. Furthermore, Patra refuted Gandhi's earlier claim about AK-47 rifles being used against student protesters in Bihar, labeling it as 'false and misleading information'. The political fallout extended to Parliament, where Rahul Gandhi alleged he was repeatedly denied the opportunity to speak on the issue in the Lok Sabha. He claimed he was told he would only be allowed to speak if he apologised for his remarks against Amit Shah, a condition he publicly refused, stating he would 'never apologise to the BJP, the RSS, or anybody associated with them.' Many of Gandhi's remarks in the Lok Sabha were reportedly expunged by the Speaker. The Opposition vowed to pursue accountability for the students and continue to raise the issue. This incident has significantly escalated the confrontation between the ruling government and the Opposition over the handling of student protests and the accountability of top government officials. The debate has brought into sharp focus the legal framework governing police powers during public demonstrations and the limits of parliamentary discourse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Full Story on Quick Digest