NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday stepped up the Opposition’s attack on the Centre, alleging that the government had gone back on its assurance not to act against students after they withdrew their July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest.Accusing the government of pursuing a ‘vendetta’ by filing FIRs and detaining students, Kharge demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi seek Union home minister Amit Shah‘s resignation.In a post on X, Kharge alleged that students were being targeted despite withdrawing their agitation after being assured that no action would be taken against them. “@narendramodi ji, ten days ago, your government suppressed the youth with batons-Pellet Guns,” Kharge wrote.“When the students withdrew their movement, you are acting out of a sense of vendetta by filing FIRs against them, forcibly detaining them. The youth withdrew the movement on the condition that no action would be taken against them, and now your governments have gone back on their own word,” he added.The Congress chief also alleged that the government was targeting students online and accused HM Shah of avoiding accountability in Parliament. Concluding his post, Kharge demanded Shah’s resignation, writing,”If there’s even a shred of shame left, demand Amit Shah’s resignation.”Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi also intensified his criticism of PM Modi and HM Shah, alleging that the government was attempting to silence young protesters.In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “PM Modi and Amit Shah you cannot threaten Gen Z into silence.”He added, “First you broke their bones. Now you are filing FIRs and taking down their accounts.”“You are India’s past. Be careful about how you treat India’s future,” Rahul Gandhi said.In another post, Congress leader Kharge also sought a response from the Centre on a separate issue, writing, “The Modi government must respond on the suppression of students and the theft of donations from Shri Ram Mandir !!”
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On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi demanded an independent, Supreme Court-monitored high-powered committee to investigate the alleged use of force against student protesters, calling for an impartial probe into the police action.The same day, Opposition MPs from several INDIA bloc parties staged a protest at Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex, demanding a statement from Shah over the July 20 incident. Gathering around 10.30 am, the MPs held placards reading, “Amit Shah sansad se gayab kyun?”The Opposition also raised the issue of the alleged embezzlement of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya during Thursday’s protests.Earlier this week, Kharge had backed Rahul Gandhi’s demand for accountability, alleging that the BJP was responsible for what he described as a “lethal attack” on the youth. Rahul Gandhi had also alleged that Amit Shah was “either culpable or incompetent” and reiterated his demand for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation.