On Monday, Congress MP K C Venugopal wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to demand a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the “police brutalities” against protesting students. Venugopal emphasized the need for Shah to address this pressing issue on the floor of the House.
In his letter, Venugopal articulated that Shah must make a comprehensive statement and respond to questions about the severe crackdown on students, including the use of pellet guns in Delhi. He said the reports of police brutality are deeply troubling and warrant urgent discussion in parliament.
“I am writing to draw your attention to the deeply distressing reports of police brutality and the disproportionate use of force against protesting students and youth in Delhi,” Venugopal stated. He highlighted the grave national concern regarding the heavy-handed actions by law enforcement against young citizens exercising their democratic rights.
The Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee stated that this issue demands immediate parliamentary scrutiny, given that the Delhi Police operates directly under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Venugopal underlined that the ultimate responsibility for these actions lies with Amit Shah. He stated, “Under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, the Home Minister remains in charge of all matters under his ministry’s purview.”
He reinforced the idea that Article 75(3) of the Constitution insists on collective accountability by the Council of Ministers to the House of the People, stressing that the executive must answer for its actions. “It is a constitutional duty of the Home Minister to appear before this House and answer for the actions of the police force under his ministry’s jurisdiction,” he emphasized.
In his formal letter, he urged Birla to recognize his authority as the custodian of the rights and privileges of the House, asserting that it is within the Speaker’s powers to ensure accountability from the executive branch.
Venugopal also explained that the Speaker holds the authority to compel the attendance of the Home Minister if he fails to voluntarily address a matter of this magnitude. He implored, “Therefore, on behalf of the opposition, I earnestly urge you to exercise your inherent powers under these provisions of the Constitution and direct the Minister of Home Affairs to immediately come to the House.”
In sharing his letter on social media platform X, Venugopal reiterated the gravity of the situation, stating, “I wrote to the Hon’ble Lok Sabha Speaker urging him to demand Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement on the police brutalities on students during the protests.” He reiterated that the Delhi Police and the CRPF, which were involved in the reported violence, are accountable to Shah’s Ministry.
Venugopal stressed, “Our Constitution clearly states that the Council of Ministers are collectively responsible to the people of the country. Thus, it is Shah’s Constitutional obligation to give a statement on this matter in Parliament. He must be compelled to speak on this issue in the Lok Sabha.”
The opposition has consistently called for Shah to address both Houses of Parliament regarding the alleged police excesses during the July 20 student protest over the paper leak issue. Venugopal pointed out that both Houses have encountered deadlock on this matter, with much of the legislative business conducted amid chaos.
