Union home minister Amit Shah on Wednesday hit back at the Opposition over allegations that he was avoiding Parliament. The BJP MP said he had been attending the session regularly but saw no point in entering the House when proceedings were repeatedly disrupted. Track Parliament proceedings live here
“Ever since the Parliament session began, I have been coming regularly and sitting in my chamber,” Shah told reporters. “But the Opposition is not allowing Parliament to function in either House. So, what is the point of anyone going inside when the proceedings are not being allowed to run?”
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Shah rejects ‘missing’, ‘fugitive’ claims
The Opposition, since the beginning of the Parliamentary session, has been demanding Amit Shah's presence in Parliament. They have staged protests and marches in the Parliament House complex to address police action against student protesters in Delhi's Jantar Mantar on July 20.
Shah told reporters on Wednesday, “words like 'laapata', 'bhaag gaye' are terms that have only recently begun to be heard in India’s public and parliamentary discourse.”
{{/usCountry}}Shah told reporters on Wednesday, “words like 'laapata', 'bhaag gaye' are terms that have only recently begun to be heard in India’s public and parliamentary discourse.”
{{/usCountry}}Shah also said the government was ready for a discussion on all issues, including protests by students over paper leaks and the alleged police brutality on protesters. He has asked the Opposition to submit a written notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla so that a discussion could be held Wednesday through Thursday.
The home minister said parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju had already made the government's position clear on holding a discussion over the students' protests.
“It was the opposition's demand. We agreed to it... From my side, I conveyed that I am also ready for any questions in Parliament. But they do not want to allow any discussion. Now people should decide who is running away,” Shah said.
Rahul Gandhi rejects Shah’s offer
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said Shah's proposal was a last-minute effort to revive the home minister's public image.
READ ALSO | 'Don't need to apologise to anyone': Rahul Gandhi comes out in support of student protesters
Speaking to reporters, Gandhi said the Opposition was not interested in hearing Shah's “imagination” or a lecture in Parliament. He said the focus should instead be on identifying those responsible for the alleged use of force against protesting students.
Gandhi questioned who ordered the alleged firing on protesting students and police action, pointing to the Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF), both under the home ministry.
“Who shot those students, who gave the order to shoot those students, who blinded one of the students, who shot one of the students in the ear, who gave the order to beat the students with lathis and nails, who gave that order, that order was implemented by the home ministry,” he said.
ALSO READ | Amit Shah sets condition for debate on student protests, Rahul Gandhi says 'not interested'
He said if Shah ordered the action, he should resign for being “culpable”, and if he did not, he should resign for being “incompetent”. Rahul Gandhi also accused Shah of staying away from Parliament and the student protests, claiming the home minister had been absent for nearly 20 days.
He said Shah’s latest offer for a discussion was a last-minute attempt to revive his public image, adding that the “balloon has burst”.
Gandhi also rejected any suggestion that he had remained silent on the student protests in Jharkhand, saying he had consistently opposed violence against students.
Later, sharing a video of his remarks on X, Gandhi said Shah’s silence was his “confession”.