Rahul Gandhi Says Amit Shah’s Parliament Absence ‘Reeks of Guilt’ Over Student Protest Row

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday stepped up his criticism of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of avoiding Parliament amid allegations of police action against student protesters. Gandhi claimed that Shah’s absence during the controversy “reeks of guilt” and reiterated his demand for a Supreme Court-supervised inquiry into the matter.

In a post on X, Gandhi shared a video that he claimed showed security personnel using force against students. He called for an independent high-level committee under the Supreme Court’s monitoring to investigate allegations of excessive use of force and ensure accountability.

The Congress leader’s remarks came in connection with the July 20 protest march towards Parliament, organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, along with similar student demonstrations in different parts of the country. Protesters had alleged that authorities used disproportionate force while attempting to control the gatherings.

Gandhi questioned why the Home Minister had not addressed Parliament on the issue and alleged that Shah was unwilling to answer questions regarding the reported police action. He also accused the minister of being directly responsible for the alleged incidents, claiming that if such actions occurred without his knowledge, it reflected a failure of leadership.

Earlier, Gandhi had demanded Shah’s removal from the Union Cabinet, alleging that students were subjected to “brutal” treatment and that security forces had used pellet guns during protests. He argued that responsibility for maintaining law and order rested with the Home Ministry. The issue sparked a heated exchange during a Lok Sabha discussion on a bill aimed at strengthening penalties for examination-related fraud and paper leaks. Gandhi’s allegations led to protests from ruling party members, and several portions of his remarks were later removed from the official record by the Speaker.

The BJP dismissed Gandhi’s accusations, describing them as unfounded and politically motivated. The ruling party accused him of making unsupported claims inside Parliament and demanded that he apologise for his remarks. The latest dispute has intensified the ongoing political confrontation between the government and opposition over allegations of police conduct, student protests, and institutional accountability.