Rahul Gandhi criticizes government over police action against student protesters

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi held a press conference alongside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to criticize the central government's response to student protests. Gandhi specifically demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah clarify who authorized the use of pellet guns and lathi charges against students demonstrating in Delhi. He further called for an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the government has failed to address the grievances of youth regarding employment and education. Separately, Gandhi condemned the use of water cannons and lathi charges by police against job aspirants protesting near the Jharkhand Assembly.

The protests in Delhi and Jharkhand have been driven by student concerns over recruitment exam irregularities and paper leaks. Gandhi has framed the government's response as a failure to protect the interests of the nation's youth, alleging that students have been met with force rather than dialogue. The opposition has maintained that the government must provide clear answers regarding the chain of command behind the police actions, while the government has proposed parliamentary debates on the broader issues affecting students.