Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sambit Patra on Wednesday, 29 July launched a sharp attack on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making false claims in the Lower House by alleging that police opened fire on protesters during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' march to Parliament. The BJP categorically denied that any firing took place during the demonstration, which was led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

What Rahul Gandhi Said in Parliament

The controversy was triggered after Gandhi, during his address in the Lok Sabha, accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of ordering police to open fire on students participating in the July 20 protest march in New Delhi. Gandhi also raised questions over Shah's absence from Parliament during the episode, remarks that drew immediate and fierce rebuttal from the treasury benches.

BJP's Point-by-Point Rebuttal

Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, BJP MP Sambit Patra said: 'Rahul Gandhi was speaking lies, attempting to mislead the country and trying to create ruckus within the Lok Sabha because if lies are spread and undignified words are used then interventions will be made to seek verification of the remarks and unparliamentary words will be expunged.'

Patra added: 'We strongly condemn Rahul Gandhi's statement that shots were fired on the students during the July 20 Sansad Chalo march. The Bharatiya Janata Party officially states, after all discussions, that shots were not fired. Rahul Gandhi lied. He blamed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for passing the order to open fire which is also a lie, because since no such thing took place then there is no question of passing an order.'

On Magisterial Authority and Shah's Whereabouts

Patra further argued that decisions on the use of force during large-scale protests are not made by the Home Minister but by the on-ground magistrate. 'Wherever protests of this scale are staged and the Army or police are deployed, a magistrate is present at that place who takes on-the-spot decisions whether or not to conduct cane charge, or to use force or not,' he said. He insisted Shah was within the Parliament premises at the relevant time and that Gandhi raised the absence question merely to 'sensationalise the issue.'

The 'Idiot' Remark Row

Patra also took strong objection to Gandhi's use of the word 'idiot' during his speech, alleging that Gandhi had categorised protesters at Jantar Mantar into three groups — students, 'idiots', and 'andhbhakts'. 'It is an insult to the students...none of them are idiots or andhbhakts,' Patra said. He further argued that since several opposition leaders also met the agitating students at Jantar Mantar, Gandhi's categorisation would logically apply to those leaders as well. Patra warned that if Gandhi intended to label ordinary citizens as 'idiots' and 'andhbhakts', 'the nation won't forgive him.'

What Comes Next

The exchange marks a fresh flashpoint in the ongoing parliamentary session, with the opposition and the ruling coalition locked in a confrontation over the handling of the July 20 protest. The BJP's formal denial of any firing incident sets the stage for further debate, with the veracity of the claims likely to be contested both inside Parliament and in the public domain in the days ahead.