'Was the order given by the Prime Minister or the Home Minister?' Priyanka Gandhi lashes out at police action against student protests 

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday strongly criticised the Central government over the use of pellet guns and AK-47 rifles against the students who protested against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations in the country. Speaking during the discussion on the Public Examinations (Amendment) Bill in Parliament, Priyanka questioned why peaceful students were humiliated, assaulted and had their clothes torn.

"Why was there a need to use tear gas against students? Why were they lathi-charged and sprayed with water cannons? What kind of emergency required the use of pellet guns and AK-47 rifles against the youth of this country? Are they terrorists?" Priyanka asked.

She demanded that the Home Minister clarify who ordered the use of pellet guns. "Was the order given by the Prime Minister or the Home Minister? Will they answer? This is not just the Congress Party's question. The entire country is asking this," she said.

Priyanka said every parent, student and teacher in the country deserves an answer. She accused the government of fearing the country's youth. She said thousands of students had staged a peaceful protest inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's ideals of non-violence but were met with force by the authorities.

She also criticised the government's response after the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. She said he resigned in a "shameful situation," but was welcomed by ruling party MPs in Parliament the very next day as if he were a superstar. "Nothing could be more ironic than this," she added.

On Friday, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi presented student Sahin Lochab before the media. Referring to Sahin as "my brother," Rahul said the student was hit by pellet guns while peacefully protesting with the national flag. He also showed Sahin's injuries to the media.

Students had marched towards Parliament in Delhi on July 20 to protest the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF) later used lathi charges and tear gas to disperse the protesters. The students were protesting near Jantar Mantar, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The protests later spread to several parts of the country. They were withdrawn after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Education Minister.