AISA's Neha Bora seeks Amit Shah's resignation over July 20 crackdown

Demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resignation over the July 20 crackdown on anti-paper leak protesters in Delhi, AISA president Neha Bora said the movement has expanded beyond the paper leak issue into a broader campaign seeking accountability from the Centre over the alleged police action.

Bora, who observed a 23-day hunger strike during the agitation, told PTI that the demand for Shah's resignation and the removal of Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar would continue alongside efforts to secure the release of arrested protesters. She said accountability could not stop at lower-level officials.

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"The buck stops at Amit Shah. The buck stops at the commissioner of police. If somebody has to resign or has to be sacked, it is these two people. No low-ranking official's suspension is enough for us," she said.

Questioning the alleged use of pellet guns and excessive force during the July 20 march to Parliament, Bora asked why security personnel were allegedly equipped with pellet guns and "sticks covered with nails".

"We are still seeking answers. Why did you use pellet guns on protesters on July 20? Why were security forces given pellet guns? Why were sticks covered with nails, with which protesters were injured," she asked.

Bora argued that irrespective of whether the alleged actions were carried out under a magistrate's orders or directives from senior authorities, the political responsibility rested with the Union home minister.

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"If it happened on the magistrate's order, then what kind of home minister are you?... And if it happened on your order, then what kind of a criminal state are you running where pellet guns can be fired on ordinary citizens," she asked.

She said the alleged police action fundamentally altered the nature of the movement, turning it from a campaign focused on paper leaks into a wider political movement against the government's handling of the protests.

"A very large section of people used to come to us every day and say that they kept voting for the BJP government, but today, because of their vote, we have to sit on a hunger strike. They would say that because of their vote, students are committing suicide, and now they are very ashamed," the AISA national president said.

"It (movement) is no more about Dharmendra Pradhan. It is about whether the government can be so barbaric with the common citizens of the country," Bora said, claiming the sense of betrayal among students and youth was now directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and the Delhi Police commissioner.

Also Read: No apology for protest language; July 20 crackdown must be answered: AISA president Neha

Reiterating that the demand for Shah's resignation was inseparable from the demand for the release of detained protesters, she said:

"The protest seeking the home minister's resignation and the release of the arrested students are not different. Both are together because both are a part of state repression," she said, alleging that arrests and criminal cases against students had continued despite assurances.

On the political response to the agitation, Bora welcomed the support extended by opposition parties, including the Congress, as well as student organisations such as the NSUI and Youth Congress.

"If you are a political party, it is your job to express solidarity with the people. It is their job to make people's issues their own issue, raise their voice in Parliament and speak about the suppression of those voices," she said.

Asked whether the agitation could influence electoral politics, Bora said she believed the public would remember both the movement and the events of July 20.

"I think people will not forget this movement. We will not forget that when we put aside divisive politics and fought together for our future, we won," she said.

Bora asserted that protests demanding accountability for the July 20 police action, Shah's resignation, the removal of the Delhi Police commissioner and the release of arrested protesters would continue across the country.

The youth-led anti-paper leak agitation, spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and supported by several student organisations, began with demands for accountability over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and the resignation of then Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

On July 20, protesters attempted to march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament, leading to clashes with the police. Protesters alleged that the Delhi Police used excessive force, including pellet guns, tear gas and lathis, leaving several demonstrators injured. The Delhi Police has denied the allegations, while the Centre has maintained that security personnel acted in accordance with the law.

The agitation ended on July 25 after Pradhan resigned and the Centre accepted the protesters' key demands, including a series of education reforms.

The government subsequently introduced the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill in Parliament to strengthen measures against paper leaks and examination malpractice. The legislation was passed by Parliament on Thursday, with the Rajya Sabha approving it amid an opposition walkout, as opposition parties continued to demand Amit Shah's clarification over the alleged crackdown and sought his resignation.

(With PTI inputs)