'Amit Shah has no courage': LoP Rahul Gandhi says Opposition wants answers, not 'lecture'

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday rejected Union Home Minister Amit Shah's offer of a parliamentary debate on the alleged police action against students, saying the Opposition wanted answers rather than a "lecture".

Gandhi questioned who ordered the alleged firing and lathicharge against students during the July 20 protests and demanded accountability from Shah. He also accused the Home Minister of staying away from Parliament, saying he lacked the courage to face the House.

Also Read: Amit Shah says ready for NEET debate from 3 pm, puts ball in Opposition’s court


"The Opposition has clearly said that we are not interested in Amit Shah giving us a lecture. When I say 'we', I mean the younger generation of this country. Who shot the students? Who gave the order to beat up the students with lathis with nails? Did Amit Shah give this order to shoot our children? If he did, then he should resign. For the last 20 days, Amit Shah has been missing. The Home Minister of India has no courage; he cannot come to the House," Gandhi said.

His remarks came hours after Shah said the government was ready for a detailed discussion in Parliament on the student protests and asked the Opposition to facilitate a debate from 3 pm on Wednesday.


Shah said the government was prepared to discuss every aspect of the protests and that he would answer questions in the House.

"Words like 'missing', 'fled', and 'fugitive' - this kind of language is being heard recently in India's public and parliamentary life. Ever since the Parliament session began, I have been coming to Parliament continuously and sitting in my chamber. Since the opposition is not letting Parliament function in both houses, what can anyone do by going there?" Shah said.

Also Read: 'Compromised PM forced to sell India's interest': Rahul Gandhi as US court dismisses Adani case

He said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had already made it clear that the government was willing to hold a discussion on the student protests.

"As far as the discussion is concerned, Kiren Rijiju, who is our Parliamentary Affairs Minister, has made it very clear that the government is ready to discuss every aspect of the student protests regarding NEET. Let a time be fixed for the discussion and the opposition should get ready. Earlier, they were demanding exactly this. We said yes. On my part, I have also said that I am ready to answer any question in Parliament. But they don't want the discussion to happen at all. Now let the public decide who is running away. Even today I say, let them give that letter to the Speaker by 3:00 PM today," he said.

The standoff has led to repeated disruptions in Parliament, with Opposition parties demanding answers from the government over the alleged use of excessive force against students and Rahul Gandhi seeking a response from Shah.

Earlier on Wednesday, Opposition leaders staged a demonstration against the Centre, raising slogans of "Amit Shah Jawab Do" (Amit Shah, provide an answer).

The Opposition has focused its attack on the Home Minister over the alleged police action against students in Delhi and other states, while the government has maintained that it is ready for a detailed discussion in Parliament.