In the aftermath of the violent crackdown on student protesters in New Delhi on July 20, 2026, Congress Party leader and opposition head in the lower house of parliament, Rahul Gandhi, has formally requested accountability from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The letter, sent shortly after the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on July 25, specifically addresses the "barbaric assault on students" who were marching toward the parliament building.
The protests were the culmination of months of unrest triggered by the May 3 leak of medical entrance exam papers. Following the leak, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) organized rallies and hunger strikes, eventually calling for a march to parliament on July 20. As thousands of students attempted to reach the building, 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.
Video evidence and witness accounts from the day depict a severe use of force. Footage shows officers using batons, tear gas, and pellet guns against the unarmed students. Specific incidents captured on video include a senior police officer slapping a female student and another student being struck by a shock baton. Furthermore, protesters have alleged that some batons used by security forces were fitted with nails. At least four individuals, including a journalist covering the event, have been identified with severe pellet injuries.
Despite earlier denials from the Delhi Police, who dismissed reports of pellet gun usage as "completely false and misleading," evidence suggests otherwise. Journalist Vijaita Singh reported in The Hindu that she accessed a general diary entry from the RAF dated July 20. The entry stated that the RAF’s Deputy Commandant, acting "on the orders of the DCP [Deputy Commissioner of Police]," fired 55 rounds of non-electrical shells, 15 rounds of electrical shells, five tear smoke grenades, and two rounds of plastic pellets from an anti-riot gun.
Rahul Gandhi’s letter also raised concerns regarding the presence of individuals in plain clothes who were seen beating students with batons. He questioned whether these individuals were police personnel or volunteers and demanded to know who authorized their deployment. Gandhi further asked the Home Minister if he had personally approved the use of lethal force, including pellet guns, against the students. To date, Amit Shah has remained silent on the allegations. As Delhi High Court advocate Rishav Sharma noted, accountability in such matters must extend through the chain of command to those responsible for creating the conditions where such force is deployed.
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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.
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