Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has formally demanded that Home Minister Amit Shah provide accountability for the violent suppression of student protesters in New Delhi on July 20, 2026. The request came via an open letter sent shortly after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25, a move prompted by widespread student-led demonstrations across India.
The unrest stems from the leakage of medical entrance exam papers on May 3, which sparked significant public anger. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) subsequently organized protests beginning June 6 at Jantar Mantar, culminating in a planned march to the parliament building on July 20. As thousands of students participated in the march, they were met with force from the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialized unit of the Central Reserve Police Force. Both organizations operate under the direct jurisdiction of the Union Home Ministry, led by Amit Shah.
Multiple video recordings from the incident show security personnel using batons, tear gas, and pellet guns against the students. Specific footage depicts a senior officer slapping a female student, while other clips show individuals being struck by shock batons. Protesters have further alleged that some batons were fitted with nails. At least four individuals, including a journalist covering the event, sustained severe injuries from pellet fire.
Despite official denials from the Delhi Police regarding the use of pellet guns, a general diary entry from the RAF dated July 20 at 1:24 a.m. contradicts this. The document confirms that the Deputy Commandant, acting on orders from the Deputy Commissioner of Police, authorized the firing of 55 non-electrical shells, 15 electrical shells, five tear smoke grenades, and two rounds of ballistic cartridges containing plastic pellets.
Questions have also been raised regarding the presence of individuals in plain clothes who were seen wielding batons alongside uniformed officers. Gandhi’s letter to the Home Minister specifically asked if these individuals were police personnel or volunteers, and who authorized their deployment. Furthermore, he questioned whether the Home Minister had personally approved the use of lethal force, including pellet guns, against the students.
While the CJP initially focused on the resignation of the education minister, Gandhi and the Congress Party are now centering their critique on the Home Ministry. As of now, Amit Shah has not responded to the allegations. Delhi High Court advocate Rishav Sharma noted that accountability must extend beyond front-line constables to those within the chain of command who create the conditions allowing for the use of unlawful force.
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As thousands began to march peacefully that day, the Modi government revealed its iron fist in the heart of New Delhi, the Indian capital.
