Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi remove Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police force against student protesters in India. At a July 30 news conference in New Delhi, Gandhi also called for an independent investigation supervised by the Supreme Court into the July 20 incident. He alleged that pellet guns, baton charges and abuse were ordered against students.

Gandhi said the Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force fall under the Union Home Ministry, making the home minister responsible for their actions. He said he wrote to Shah on July 25 asking whether pellet-gun use had been authorised and whether people in plain clothes involved in attacks were police personnel, but received neither a response nor acknowledgement. His similar allegation in the Lok Sabha prompted protests from ruling members and demands for an apology.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh rejected the allegation, saying no shots were fired at protesters and only tear gas was used. Gandhi responded that pellet guns can be lethal and said an injured person presented at the news conference had pellet marks and a medical report documenting such injuries. He also alleged students were being identified and intimidated using facial-recognition technology.