Opposition MPs on Wednesday held a protest march in the Parliament complex, demanding a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on alleged police action against students, a discussion on alleged irregularities in Ram temple donations, and the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir.
Led by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the MPs marched from the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Prerna Sthal to Makar Dwar, carrying placards and raising slogans against the government.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also joined the protest and questioned Shah’s absence from Parliament, demanding that he address the issues raised by the Opposition.
“Why has he not been coming to the House? They are disrespecting Parliament. It has been several days, but they do not want to enter the House. What is the problem in coming and giving a statement?” Kharge told reporters.
The protesting MPs demanded that Shah make a statement in both Houses of Parliament over alleged police excesses against students during demonstrations linked to the paper leak issue last month.
Several Opposition members also raised allegations of “misappropriation” of donations made to the Ram temple in Ayodhya. MPs from Jammu and Kashmir demanded the restoration of statehood for the Union Territory, with the protest coinciding with the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.
The MPs raised slogans including “Amit Shah jawaab do” and displayed placards criticising the government. They also placed donation boxes near the Makar Dwar steps as a symbolic protest over the alleged misuse of temple donations, with some MPs putting cash into the boxes.
The protest was attended by several Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party MPs Dimple Yadav and Dharmendra Yadav, TMC leaders Sagarika Ghose and Mahua Moitra, NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule, JMM’s Mahua Maji and RSP’s N K Premachandran.
During the march, the MPs carried a large banner that read “Amit Shah jawaab do”.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accused the government of failing to take responsibility for alleged police action against students.
“Those holding high offices have a responsibility towards the people. This is not a dictatorship or a ‘raj darbar’. If something has happened — pellet guns have been used, students have been tear-gassed or lathi-charged — someone must have given the order. They should take responsibility,” she said.
The INDIA bloc has said it will continue to raise the issues of alleged misuse of Ram temple donations and the use of force against students during protests.
(With inputs from PTI)