New Delhi [India], July 29 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP and National spokesperson Sambit Patra on Wednesday accused opposition leader Rahul Gandhi of attempting to misrepresent facts and mislead the public regarding recent protests and student safety claims. Sambit Patra criticised Rahul Gandhi for floating unverified claims about students being fired upon and challenged critics to produce physical proof of any ammunition used.
Addressing a press conference, Sambit Patra pointed out inconsistencies in the opposition’s stance and demanded evidence for their assertions.
Patra said, “I heard what Rahul Gandhi said in the House again and claimed that students were shot at and that the Home Minister gave the order. The BJP held a press conference to clarify that no bullets were fired. If you have any cartridge, show it. Changing the goalpost is an old habit of Rahul Gandhi.”
Sambit patra further challenged and launched a sharp critique against Rahul Gandhi while dismissing opposition narratives regarding home ministry directives and highlighting a history of legal apologies over political remarks.
“Rahul Gandhi called a press conference and once again tried to distort facts. Regarding the ‘chowkidar’ remark, the Supreme Court had forced him to apologise; while he doesn’t apologise here, he goes to court and apologises,” he added.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded the removal of Home Minister Amit Shah over police action against protestors during ‘Sansad March’ on July 20 and alleged that he is “either culpable or incompetent” and “has to go” in either case.
Addressing a press conference hours after his speech in Lok Sabha during which the BJP objected to his remarks, Rahul Gandhi stuck to his allegations against the Home Minister.
He also demanded an independent probe into the Delhi Police action monitored by the Supreme Court.
Rahul Gandhi, who is Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, alleged that he was not allowed to speak in the House.
“The Leader of Opposition (himself) is not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha. Multiple times, I asked the speaker to bring order to the house so that I could speak… but I was not allowed… The excuse was that I said something about Amit Shah, that he was responsible for the brutality that was carried out… I was given an assurance that if I apologize, I will be allowed to speak. I will never apologise to the BJP, RSS or any other person associated with them,” he said.
He said that protesting students were fired at with pellet guns and claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was responsible for “brutality” against the protesters.
“The (protesting students) were shot with pellet guns. One boy who was shot with a pellet gun is most likely to lose his eye and may not be able to see. I have seen the AIIMS medical certificate, which shows that he was shot with pellet guns. Shock batons were used, not just normal lathis, lathis with nails. Where did the police get this idea from?” he asked.”
My issue is that where our students, people who are open-minded, ask questions, were brutalised on the streets of Delhi. They were shot with pellet guns… I have seen the medical certificate, AIIMS medical certificate… You can see a police officer slapping a minor… The brutalisation of our students is a fundamental issue… Bajrang Dal is being mobilised against them to frighten them. So that they do not do this type of thing again…”Rahul Gandhi said it was his right as the Leader of the Opposition to raise issues that are important for the country.
“To me, the most important issue today by far is the following: the issue where our students, people who are open-minded and ask questions, were brutalised on the streets of Delhi,” the Congress MP said.
The Congress leader repeated his allegations he made outside the House.
“There can be two possible scenarios. One is that the Home Minister issued the order. The second is that the Home Minister was unaware that firing would take place. In the first case, he is culpable; in the second, he is incompetent–it has to be one of the two; there is no third possibility,” Gandhi had said.
The Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 after a long debate and sharp exchanges. (ANI)
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