CHANDIGARH / PEN OF DEMOCRACY NEWS DESK

Sirsa MP, former Union minister and Congress general secretary Kumari Selja has demanded a clear and factual explanation from the Central Government in Parliament over questions being raised about police action during student protests in Delhi, saying that the government must address the concerns through facts and official records instead of allowing the parliamentary deadlock to continue.

Selja said differences between the government and the Opposition were a natural part of a democratic system, but accountability was equally important. She said Parliament is the appropriate forum for the government to explain its position when serious questions are raised about police action against protesting students.

The Congress leader said the Congress and other Opposition parties have been seeking a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the issue. She also referred to Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal’s letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, in which the party sought a statement from the Home Minister regarding the alleged police action against students and claims concerning the use of pellet guns.

Selja pointed out that the Delhi Police comes under the Union Home Ministry and argued that the Centre therefore has a responsibility to place the relevant facts before Parliament.

She said the government could take a straightforward step towards resolving the ongoing confrontation by allowing the Home Minister to address the House and explain what happened during the student protests.

According to Selja, the government should clarify what kind of force was used against the protesting students, whether pellet guns were actually used as alleged and at what level the instructions for the police action were issued.

She said that if the government believes the allegations being raised by the Opposition are incorrect, it should present the facts and official records in Parliament and place its version before the country.

The demand comes amid an ongoing political confrontation in Parliament over the handling of student protests. The issue has become a major point of contention between the government and the Opposition during the Monsoon Session. Recent reporting indicates that the government has offered a discussion on the matter and that Amit Shah has said he is prepared to respond to questions, while the Opposition has continued to demand accountability over the alleged police action.

Selja said Parliament is the country’s highest democratic institution and that both the government’s position and the Opposition’s questions should be heard there.

She also expressed concern over what she described as repeated difficulties faced by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in getting adequate opportunity to put forward his views in the Lok Sabha.

According to Selja, allowing the Opposition to speak is an essential part of parliamentary democracy. She said that if the government wants to uphold the dignity of Parliament, it must also respect parliamentary traditions and ensure adequate space for opposing viewpoints.

She argued that preventing or repeatedly interrupting the Opposition from raising important issues does not strengthen the institution of Parliament. Instead, she said, it risks weakening public confidence in parliamentary debate.

The Congress leader described the repeated disruption of Lok Sabha proceedings over the issue as unfortunate, but said the responsibility for ensuring that Parliament functions rests with both sides, with the government carrying a particularly important responsibility in facilitating the functioning of the House.

Selja said a direct and factual response could help break the deadlock. In her view, continuing to avoid the questions would only increase mistrust between the government and the Opposition.

She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah occupy positions carrying major constitutional responsibilities and that answering questions raised by elected representatives should be regarded as a sign of democratic strength rather than weakness.

The Congress leader said the questions being raised by her party were straightforward: under what circumstances was action taken against the students, who authorised the action and what is the factual position regarding the allegations of pellet-gun use?

She said that if an investigation establishes that excessive force was used at any level, an impartial inquiry should be conducted and appropriate action should follow.

Selja also placed the issue in the broader context of concerns among young people across the country. She said India’s youth were already facing anxiety over employment opportunities, examination-related issues and uncertainty about their future.

She argued that students raising concerns should not be treated simply as a law-and-order issue. Instead, she said, authorities should engage with them and create avenues for dialogue.

The Congress leader stressed that communication between the government and young citizens is particularly important when protests involve questions related to education, examinations and employment.

She said the democratic response to student concerns should involve listening, discussion and accountability rather than allowing tensions to escalate.

Selja maintained that Parliament should be used primarily as a forum for addressing matters of public importance. She said the House should not remain consumed by confrontation when there are several other pressing issues that require discussion.

She urged the government to facilitate a clear statement from the Home Minister and create conditions for a substantive discussion so that Parliament can return its attention to issues affecting ordinary citizens.

Among the matters she mentioned were inflation, unemployment, education, farmers’ concerns and other public-interest issues.

She said the functioning of Parliament matters because citizens expect their elected representatives to raise their concerns and seek answers from those in government.

Selja maintained that accountability should not be viewed as an adversarial concept. In a parliamentary democracy, she said, governments are expected to answer questions raised by the Opposition and place relevant information on record.

She further argued that a transparent explanation could help remove uncertainty surrounding the student protests and the allegations relating to police action.

The Congress leader reiterated that her demand was for the government to provide facts in Parliament and allow a meaningful discussion on the issue.

She said the conerns surrounding the treatment of protesting students should be addressed through due process and, wherever necessary, an impartial examination of the allegations.

Recent developments show that the issue remains politically sensitive. On August 12, Amit Shah publicly indicated his willingness to engage in a parliamentary debate and answer questions, while Rahul Gandhi subsequently criticised the government’s approach and maintained that the Opposition was seeking direct answers rather than a lecture. 

She said that a functioning Parliament requires both sides to participate in debate, with the government responding to legitimate questions and the Opposition raising issues of public concern.

Selja concluded by urging the Centre to respect parliamentary traditions, address the questions surrounding the student protests and engage with young people through dialogue.

She said that resolving the current deadlock would also allow Parliament to devote time to other issues concerning the country’s economy, education system, farmers, employment and the wider public interest.

POD/DESK