Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticised Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju over his remarks on the recent Jantar Mantar protest, questioning the government’s account of how Delhi Police handled the demonstration.
Rijiju had defended the police response, saying that no protester suffered a serious injury or required hospitalisation. He argued that the large gathering was managed without any fatality and praised the administration for preventing a more serious situation.
Gandhi, however, disputed the minister’s version of events. In a post on X, he alleged that students taking part in the demonstration were subjected to excessive force, including the use of pellet guns and batons fitted with nails.
Rahul Gandhi Claims Students Suffered Injuries
Gandhi claimed that a child lost an eye while a girl suffered an injury to her ear during the confrontation. He said he had personally met some of the injured students and referred to videos circulating online that, according to him, showed the alleged violence.
“Should this brutality be praised?” Gandhi asked while responding to Rijiju’s comments.
The Congress leader also accused the government of presenting a false version of the events and criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not apologising to the protesting students.
Rijiju Defends Delhi Police Action
Rijiju had said police resorted to force only after protesters allegedly attempted to move towards Parliament. He maintained that the situation was brought under control without any deaths and argued that the police response should be viewed in the context of the size of the demonstration.
The contrasting claims by the government and the opposition have intensified the political dispute over the handling of the Jantar Mantar protest, with questions continuing over the conduct of security personnel and the injuries allegedly suffered by demonstrators.
