Opposition sticks to three non-negotiable demands; Rahul Gandhi says Amit Shah must clarify on ‘shooting of our children’

New Delhi: Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday reiterated their three non-negotiable demands related to the ongoing Parliament session, insisting that Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must first address the alleged police brutality against students in Delhi and the reported theft from the Ram Temple Trust before any other discussion can take place.

Addressing a hurriedly called press conference at Indira Bhawan, the AICC headquarters, the two leaders said the Opposition’s position has remained unchanged since the session began on July 20. Pawan Khera introduced the press meet, noting that the Opposition had been waiting for the Home Minister to respond clearly to its core concerns.

Kharge said the first demand concerns the “barbaric” action by Delhi Police against young protesters. He alleged the use of pellet guns, tear gas, water cannons and electric lathis (described as lathis with nails) against students. “We wanted a limited discussion. The Home Minister should come and explain how paper leaks happened and why such force was used on children. For 14-15 days he said nothing. That means he did not want to discuss it,” Kharge said.

The second demand relates to the Ram Temple Trust in Ayodhya. Kharge noted that the Prime Minister had played a key role in establishing the trust and selecting its members, many of whom are identified with him. “Despite the trust remaining the same, people close to the Prime Minister have allegedly stolen donations. Where did the bricks go? Where did the silver go? Where did the money go? Where did the Ramcharitmanas go? People have exposed it and demanded the strictest punishment. The Prime Minister himself should explain,” he said.

The third demand is that the Prime Minister must apologise to the nation. “Thousands, lakhs and crores of people have faith in the Ram Temple and Ayodhya. When such a big incident happens at a place of such faith, the Prime Minister has not opened his mouth for 15 days. This is the first such incident where both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister have maintained complete silence,” Kharge stated. He emphasised that the three issues are non-negotiable and the Opposition is fighting on all of them together.

Rahul Gandhi sharpened the attack, saying the central question has never been about a general speech by Amit Shah. “The question was always that Mr Amit Shah has to make it clear who authorised the shooting of our youngsters in Delhi. He is Home Minister. Pellet guns were fired. Students were beaten with lathis with nails on them. Did he order it or did he not order it? If he ordered it, he is guilty of getting our children shot. If he didn’t know about it, he is incompetent. Either way, he should go,” Gandhi said.

He rejected any suggestion that the Opposition should simply listen to the Home Minister once he comes to the House. “We are not interested in his fantasy conversations or his personal opinions on education or other subjects. Neither are we interested, nor is the country. We are interested in one thing: did Amit Shah order the shooting of our children or not? Without an order from the Home Ministry, neither Delhi Police nor RAF can open fire.”

Gandhi accused both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister of lacking the “courage” and “guts” to face Parliament for 15 days. “Neither of them thinks that the brutality carried out in Delhi is worth commenting on. That is the real issue for our students to see and understand,” he said. He dismissed recent signals from the government as an attempt to “repair a burst balloon and fill it with gas again.”

On a question about students in Jharkhand, Gandhi was categorical: “We condemn any violence against peacefully protesting students. It does not matter where it is happening. We are against it. As long as the protest is peaceful, attacking it with violence is something we oppose.”

The Opposition leaders made it clear that their position has not shifted and that any discussion in Parliament can begin only after the Home Minister first answers the specific question of authorisation for the use of force against students in Delhi.