Rahul Gandhi targets HM Amit Shah as Congress leaders join sit-in protest, demand FIR over alleged police action on July 20 protests

Congress leaders and party workers gathered outside the Parliament Street Police Station on Friday as Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi continued his sit-in protest, demanding the registration of an FIR over the alleged use of pellet guns against student protester Sahil Lochav during the July 20 demonstration. Gandhi was accompanied by Lochav, who Congress leaders say suffered serious injuries after allegedly being hit by pellets while protesting peacefully at Jantar Mantar. According to Congress sources, Gandhi plans to continue the protest until an FIR is registered.

In a post on X, Gandhi accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of avoiding accountability and questioned why authorities were allegedly preventing Lochav from pursuing legal action. He claimed the incident was an assault on constitutional rights and called for a judicial inquiry into the alleged police action. Several senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khurshid, Kumari Selja and Devendra Yadav, joined Gandhi at the protest site. Congress workers also raised slogans outside the police station.

Khurshid said Gandhi would remain at the protest until the FIR was registered and expressed confidence that the demand would eventually be accepted. Congress sources claimed Lochav and his lawyers first approached Delhi Police on August 14 and submitted a written complaint but allegedly did not receive an acknowledgement or an investigating officer's number. They said the matter was followed up again by email and phone on August 17, but the requested details were still not provided.

On Friday, Gandhi accompanied Lochav to the Delhi Police DCP office at Parliament Street to press for action on the complaint. According to the sources, Gandhi had earlier visited Mandir Marg Police Station seeking registration of a case. After allegedly failing to get the complaint registered there, he met senior police officials, including the DCP Central, before proceeding to Parliament Street Police Station.

The Congress has argued that the alleged incident amounts to a cognisable offence and therefore warrants registration of an FIR. Gandhi has demanded an investigation and accountability for those responsible. The issue was also raised by Gandhi during a press conference on July 29. At the time, he alleged that students protesting in Delhi had been subjected to excessive force, including the use of pellet guns and batons. He cited what he described as an AIIMS medical document concerning a student who allegedly suffered an eye injury.

Gandhi had questioned the use of such force against students, arguing that peaceful protesters should not be subjected to violence for raising questions or expressing their views. He also accused the authorities of failing to adequately address allegations of police brutality. The Congress protest has now intensified the political confrontation over the July 20 demonstrations, with the party demanding a formal police investigation and accountability for the alleged injuries suffered by protesters.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from @RahulGandhi.