Congress MP K C Venugopal wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Monday, urging him to demand Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on police brutality against students. Venugopal emphasized the need for Shah to address parliamentary concerns regarding the excessive use of force by police during recent protests.
Venugopal’s correspondence outlines a troubling pattern of police actions, including the use of pellet guns against peaceful demonstrators in Delhi. He referred specifically to the July 20 protests related to a paper leak issue that led to significant public unrest.
The MP emphasized that the heavy-handed approach by law enforcement raised serious questions about the state’s commitment to upholding democratic values. Venugopal stated, “The police brutality and disproportionate use of force against the youth is not only worrying but also demands urgent scrutiny from the Parliament.”
As chair of the Public Accounts Committee, Venugopal holds significant authority and conveys that the responsibility for police actions ultimately rests with the Home Minister. He cited constitutional provisions to reinforce this point, stating, “Under Article 75(3), the Council of Ministers bears collective responsibility to the House of People.” This constitutional obligation implies that Shah must appear before the Parliament to provide an account of the police’s actions.
In his plea, Venugopal urged Speaker Birla to utilize his powers to ensure accountability from the Executive, saying, “As the custodian of this House, your role is crucial in ensuring that the Minister remains answerable for every action undertaken by the forces under his command.”
Venugopal’s letter stressed that it is the obligation of the House to demand compliance from Shah. He stated that if the Minister continues to avoid presenting himself voluntarily, it is the Speaker’s duty to facilitate his attendance in order to uphold parliamentary integrity.
“On behalf of the opposition, I earnestly urge you to invoke the inherent powers vested in your position under Articles 77 and 75 of the Constitution. It is essential that the Home Minister appears before the House,” he asserted.
Sharing his demands on social media platform X, Venugopal reiterated the importance of having Shah address the issue in Parliament. He highlighted that both the Delhi Police and the CRPF, who were allegedly involved in the violence, fall under Shah’s ministry.
“Our Constitution clearly states that the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the people of the country. Therefore, it is incumbent upon Shah to clarify his stance on this matter within the Lok Sabha,” Venugopal noted.
Notably, the opposition’s calls for Shah’s presence in Parliament have gained momentum, with persistent demands in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The legislative business has faced significant disruptions as opposition members have called for accountability and transparency regarding police actions on protesters.
The continuing debacle over the issue reflects the growing tensions between the ruling party and opposition, as both Houses remain at an impasse over the demand for Shah to address these grave allegations. With pressing public interest in the matter, stakeholders await a decisive response from the Speaker to ensure that democratic processes are upheld in Parliament.
