Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has defended the police response to the July 20 student protest in Delhi over the NEET paper leak allegations, rejecting Opposition claims that excessive force was used against demonstrators.
Rijiju said the government did not accept the allegation that protesters were subjected to widespread injuries. His remarks came after Parliament’s Monsoon Session ended on August 13 amid repeated clashes between the government and Opposition over several issues, including the handling of the student protest.
What happened during the NEET protest?
The protest was organised by students and supporters who were demanding action over the alleged NEET paper leak. A large crowd later attempted to march towards Parliament, leading to a confrontation with security personnel.
The Opposition subsequently alleged that police used excessive force to stop the protesters. Questions were also raised over claims that pellet guns were used during the crackdown.
Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns.
Rijiju questions pellet-gun allegations
Speaking about the allegations, Rijiju argued that the scale of the reported injuries did not match what he believed would happen if pellet guns had actually been fired into a very large gathering.
He said thousands of people were present during the demonstration and questioned how many protesters would have been injured if such weapons had been deployed.
Rijiju also pointed out that the matter has reached the Supreme Court and said it would be inappropriate to reach conclusions before the court examines the petitions.
Reports of pellet injuries
The minister’s comments come against the backdrop of earlier reports claiming that some protesters suffered injuries during the July 20 demonstration.
According to medical records reported earlier, one 25-year-old protester suffered multiple pellet wounds on his back and elbow. Another protester was also reported to have sustained a serious eye injury.
These reports have become part of the wider dispute over whether excessive force was used during the protest.
Government defends police action
Rijiju argued that the police were responsible for preventing a very large gathering from reaching Parliament.
He said the authorities had to manage a situation involving tens of thousands of people and maintained that some level of force may be necessary when a large crowd attempts to move towards a restricted area.
The Opposition, however, has continued to demand answers from the government and has sought a detailed explanation from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police action.
Supreme Court to examine the issue
The allegations surrounding the use of pellet guns are also before the Supreme Court. Rijiju said the government would wait for the court’s consideration before making a definitive assessment.
The dispute has therefore moved beyond the political confrontation in Parliament, with questions about the police response now also subject to judicial scrutiny.
Political fight continued after Monsoon Session
The NEET protest controversy became one of several flashpoints during the Monsoon Session, which ended on August 13 after repeated disruptions.
The government maintained that it was willing to discuss the concerns raised by the Opposition, while the Opposition continued to demand accountability over the police response.
Rijiju’s latest remarks indicate that the government remains firm in its defence of the security arrangements used during the Parliament march, while questions about the alleged pellet injuries remain contested.
