Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday, 29 July demanded that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi apologise on the floor of Lok Sabha for alleging that Home Minister Amit Shah had authorised police firing on protesting students in New Delhi, calling the charge a serious 'breach of position and privilege.' The accusation, made during the debate on the anti-paper leak bill, triggered pandemonium across both treasury and opposition benches and forced the House to be adjourned for half an hour.

What Gandhi Said on the Floor

While participating in the anti-paper leak debate, Gandhi levelled a pointed allegation against the Home Minister over the police crackdown on student protesters in the national capital, including the reported use of pellet guns. 'The Home Minister authorised the shooting of our students. He put pellets into the blood of our students; he ordered the students of India to be shot,' Gandhi said in Lok Sabha, drawing immediate and loud protests from the ruling benches. Gandhi also accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of interference in the country's education system and reportedly directed 'idiot' jibes during the proceedings.

Rijiju's Sharp Rebuttal

Rijiju led the government's counteroffensive, challenging Gandhi to either produce evidence for his allegations or retract them publicly. 'How can you say this? You are the LoP. On what basis are you saying this? Who told you this? What you said is very wrong,' Rijiju said, while also urging the Speaker to expunge Gandhi's remarks from the official House record. He pressed further: 'How can you say that somebody ordered firing? You cannot make such claims without evidence.' The minister characterised Gandhi's statement as a serious breach — not merely of parliamentary decorum, but of the responsibilities that come with the office of Leader of Opposition.

Gandhi's Defence and the Ensuing Chaos

When Rijiju pressed Gandhi on the basis of his claims, the Congress leader replied that a crackdown of that scale could have been 'authorised by the Home Minister' only. The exchange set off a wave of slogan-shouting and noisy confrontations, with neither side willing to stand down. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members demanded Gandhi apologise for what they called 'baseless' allegations, while opposition members held their ground. The sustained uproar prompted the Speaker to adjourn the House for 30 minutes.

Context: The Anti-Paper Leak Debate

The episode unfolded during what was already a high-stakes legislative debate on the anti-paper leak bill, a measure introduced against the backdrop of widespread public anger over examination irregularities. The bill's debate had drawn sharp political lines, and Gandhi's intervention — pivoting from education policy to police conduct — escalated the session into one of the most disorderly of the current Parliament term. Notably, allegations of police use of pellet guns on student protesters have been a recurring flashpoint between the Centre and the opposition in recent months.

What Happens Next

The Speaker's decision on whether to expunge Gandhi's remarks from the record will be closely watched, as it could set a precedent for how unsubstantiated floor allegations against cabinet ministers are treated. The BJP is expected to press for a formal apology, while the Indian National Congress (INC) is unlikely to concede ground given the political stakes around the student protests issue.