Police misbehaved with protesters, journalists, Shah must answer: Rahul

• Rahul Gandhi seeks answers from Amit Shah over alleged misconduct by Delhi Police personnel during a Jantar Mantar protest

• He alleges women protesters and journalists were mistreated, with hundreds detained and an FIR not registered despite demands

• AISA also alleges manhandling and inappropriate conduct by male police personnel against women protesters, journalists and lawyers

Senior Congress leader and leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday demanded answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over allegations of misconduct with women protesters and journalists by Delhi Police personnel during a protest at Jantar Mantar.

In a post on X in Hindi, Rahul Gandhi said that the Delhi Police comes under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and therefore Shah must respond to the allegations.

Rahul Gandhi referred to an allegation by a female journalist who claimed that a police officer had behaved inappropriately with her at Jantar Mantar. He said hundreds of journalists had been protesting for hours, demanding that an FIR be registered, and questioned why the police had not taken action.

"Isn't that the police's basic duty?" Rahul Gandhi said in his post, while alleging that no FIR had been registered.

He further claimed that hundreds of people were taken into custody at Jantar Mantar on Saturday and alleged that women protesters faced misconduct, while journalists were allegedly dragged and their cameras snatched.

Rahul Gandhi also referred to previous instances in which police personnel had faced allegations of inappropriate conduct towards women, saying such incidents were not new.

He alleged that women and students across Delhi were participating in a satyagraha amid concerns over their safety, but accused the police responsible for protecting them of using force against protesters.

"A government that fears registering even one woman's complaint — what exactly is it protecting?" Rahul Gandhi asked.

He directly addressed the home minister, saying: "Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Amit Shah ji, where are you? You have to answer for this."

The allegations were also raised by the All India Students' Association (AISA). In a statement, the left-wing student organisation alleged that women protesters, journalists and lawyers were manhandled by male police personnel during the protest.

AISA further claimed that several women had complained of being groped by male police personnel. The organisation accused some officers of abusing women protesters and alleged that proper protocols for handling crowds were not followed.

The allegations come amid heightened political criticism over the handling of protests at Jantar Mantar. The claims by Rahul Gandhi and AISA concern the conduct of individual police personnel and remain allegations unless established through an official inquiry or other evidence.

With PTI inputs