Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has rejected allegations of excessive force during the Gen Z student protest over the NEET paper leak in Delhi, saying there were no widespread injuries among protesters.
Rijiju's comments came a day after Parliament's Monsoon Session was adjourned sine die on August 13 following repeated disruptions and sharp clashes between the government and Opposition.
The Opposition had accused police of using excessive force during the July 20 Parliament march, including allegations that pellet guns were used against protesters. The government has denied the charge.
“There were no widespread injuries,” Rijiju said, rejecting the allegations of excessive force.
However, medical records cited in reports about the protest had indicated that a 25-year-old protester suffered around 20 pellet wounds, including injuries to his back and elbow. Another protester was reported to have suffered a serious eye injury.
When asked about the allegations of pellet gun use, Rijiju questioned the number of injuries that would have occurred had such weapons been used during a protest involving thousands of people.
“Pellet guns have multiple pellets; they are not a single bullet,” he said, adding that the circumstances surrounding individual injuries would also have to be examined.
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Rijiju said the matter would ultimately be considered by the Supreme Court, where petitions concerning the alleged use of pellet guns are pending. He said no conclusion could be drawn until the court examined the issue.
The minister also referred to the use of pellet guns in Kashmir during previous Congress-led governments, saying the weapons had been used at several places during that period.
Defending the police response to the Parliament march, Rijiju pointed to the size of the gathering and said it was the police's responsibility to prevent a large crowd from moving towards Parliament.
He said tens of thousands of people had gathered during the protest and argued that police would have to use force if such a large group attempted to march towards Parliament.
The July 20 protest and the subsequent police action became a major flashpoint during the Monsoon Session. The Opposition repeatedly sought an explanation from the government and demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The government maintained that it was willing to discuss the issue in Parliament. Rijiju had earlier said Shah was prepared to give a detailed response on the student protests if the Opposition allowed the House to function.
The issue remained part of the broader political confrontation that disrupted the Monsoon Session, which concluded on August 13.
Rijiju said the government remained ready to address the concerns raised by the Opposition and respond to them in Parliament.
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