Rahul Gandhi Demands Amit Shah's Resignation Over Alleged Student Violence

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday reiterated his demand for the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding him responsible for the alleged violence against protesting students on July 20. He said accountability must also be fixed at the highest level in a government that prides itself on its "centralised control." The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, in an article for The Hindu, alleged that tear gas, nail-studded batons and pellet guns were used against protesters. He referred to 19-year-old Sahil Lochab, claiming that he was hit by shrapnel on the upper part of his body and a shrapnel hit his eye. The Congress leader claimed that policemen also baton-charged young women and assaulted minor protesters. He questioned, "Who gave the order for this illegal and unconstitutional violence?" Gandhi said that the Union Home Ministry, under the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF), and the Home Ministry should be responsible for the incident at a distance of 500 metres from the current Parliament.