Congress MP K C Venugopal wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, demanding that Home Minister Amit Shah make a statement regarding the alleged police brutalities against students during recent protests in Delhi.
Venugopal emphasized that Shah must address these serious allegations on the floor of the House, providing answers about the police atrocities and the reported use of pellet guns against students. The Congress leader condemned the excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies against young citizens exercising their democratic rights.
Venugopal described the actions of the police as a grave national concern. He stressed that immediate parliamentary scrutiny is essential to address these issues, given that the Delhi Police operate under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
In his communication, Venugopal invoked the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules and Article 77 of the Constitution which outline the Home Minister’s responsibilities. He stated, “The Home Minister is fundamentally in charge of all actions taken by his ministry, and any misconduct by the police under his jurisdiction necessitates his address to the House.”
The Congress general secretary underlined the constitutional obligation of the Home Minister to answer for the police’s actions. “In our parliamentary democracy, the Executive must remain completely accountable to the Legislature,” Venugopal asserted.
Addressing Speaker Birla, he urged, “As the custodian of the rights of this House, you possess the authority to ensure that the Executive remains accountable. It is your duty to command the Home Minister’s presence to address such significant matters.”
Venugopal further stated that if Amit Shah failed to present himself voluntarily, it was the Speaker’s responsibility to assert constitutional mandates to uphold parliamentary accountability.
He concluded his letter by expressing hope for Birla’s prompt action, stating, “Anticipating your affirmative response to uphold the democratic traditions of this House, I urge you to direct the Minister of Home Affairs to present himself promptly.”
Sharing his letter on social media platform X, Venugopal reiterated the necessity of Shah addressing the “police brutalities on students in Parliament.”
He highlighted that the Delhi Police, along with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which were involved in the violent crackdown on student protests, report to the Ministry of Home Affairs, affirming Shah’s accountability.
According to the Congress leader, the Constitution mandates collective responsibility of the Council of Ministers to the citizens, making it Shah’s constitutional duty to address the concerns of police conduct. He urged Parliament to reflect the voices of the people regarding police accountability.
The Opposition has consistently raised demands for Amit Shah’s intervention in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. They seek clarification on police conduct during the protests held on July 20, regarding the paper leak incident. However, the proceedings of both Houses have faced disruptions with many legislative matters being conducted amidst considerable tumult.
