New Delhi: The Opposition will continue its protest and intensify its attack on the Centre in Parliament on Thursday over its demands regarding the alleged Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case and the police action against students during the July 20 protest at Jantar Mantar.
Opposition parties have been protesting over both issues since the beginning of the Monsoon session. The Ram Mandir controversy relates to allegations of financial embezzlement involving donation funds, while the Opposition has also sought accountability over the police action during the student protest.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, seeking suspension of the day’s business to discuss the police response to the student protest. He also demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident.
In his notice to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General, Tagore said the issue was of “definite and urgent public importance” and required an immediate discussion.
He alleged that lathi charges, pellet guns, tear gas and water cannons were used against protesting students, including women, resulting in injuries and raising serious public concern.
The Congress MP sought clarification on who authorised the police action, whether it complied with legal procedures and constitutional safeguards, and under what circumstances crowd-control measures were used.
The notice also sought details on the number of students, including women, who were injured, detained or arrested, and asked whether complaints of police misconduct or excessive force had been received and acted upon.
Tagore further demanded an independent, impartial and time-bound judicial inquiry into the incident. He also sought details of FIRs registered against students, the charges invoked and the reasons for initiating criminal proceedings.
He urged the government to withdraw all FIRs against students and assure Parliament that peaceful protests and democratic dissent would not be met with police action or criminal prosecution.
The Congress MP also asked whether the government planned to engage with students through dialogue instead of coercive measures.
Tagore further sought a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing regret and apologising to students if any inquiry established that excessive or unjustified force had been used against peaceful protesters.
He said the incident raised serious concerns about constitutional rights, including freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, protection of civil liberties and public confidence in law enforcement, and urged an immediate discussion in Parliament.
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