New Delhi : Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise and Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement in Parliament regarding the alleged police action against protesting students.
Addressing a press conference, Kharge said the Congress wants the issue to be discussed in Parliament so that the government’s response reaches the people through the House.
“Our demand is that Narendra Modi should apologise and Amit Shah should come to the House and make a statement on the brutality inflicted on students. The message should reach the people of the country through Parliament,” Kharge said.
He stated that Opposition MPs had raised the issue with the Rajya Sabha Chairman, who, according to Kharge, also observed in the House that the Home Minister should make a statement on the matter. However, Kharge alleged that the proceedings were disrupted before the discussion could take place.
The Congress President further accused the ruling party of disrupting Parliament whenever Opposition leaders attempted to speak.
“Whenever I stand up to speak in the House, MPs from the ruling side create a ruckus. If the House is being disrupted, the government itself is responsible. We want Parliament to function properly, and we want Amit Shah to come to the House and respond,” he said.
Kharge also reiterated the Congress party’s support for students across the country, irrespective of the state they belong to.
“The Congress Party stands firmly with every student of the country, whether they are from Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi or any other state. We will continue to fight for the resolution of students’ issues and the protection of their rights,” he said.
He added that the party’s support for students is not influenced by whether the state is governed by an ally or an opposition party.
“Whether it is a state governed by our alliance partner or by the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, the Congress Party and all of us stand with the students and youth. We will continue our fight to resolve their issues,” Kharge said.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students and their parents, alleging that peaceful student protesters were subjected to excessive force.
Addressing a press conference, Kharge criticised the Prime Minister’s reported remarks that he had “forgiven the students” and said the government should instead acknowledge its own actions.
“Narendra Modi is saying, ‘I have forgiven the students.’ Instead, the Prime Minister should accept the mistake of himself and his government and apologise to the students and their parents,” Kharge said.
He alleged that students protesting peacefully were subjected to a lathi-charge, pellet gun firing, and tear gas shelling.
Kharge said the Opposition has been demanding for the past 15 days that Union Home Minister Amit Shah address Parliament and answer key questions related to the incident.
According to Kharge, the Opposition is seeking clarification on:
- Who ordered the lathi-charge on the students?
- Who authorised the firing of pellet guns?
- Why were tear gas shells used against the students?
“We are asking Amit Shah these questions. What is the problem in him coming to the House and making a statement?” Kharge asked.
The Congress President further alleged that despite Parliament being in session for the past 15 days, neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Minister had addressed the issue in the House.
“This means one of two things—either Modi and Shah are ignoring Parliament, or they are afraid to come to Parliament,” he claimed.
