Kharge slams Shah for skipping Parliament despite RS Chairman's remarks

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah for not making a statement in Parliament on the alleged police action against students, saying he failed to appear in the House despite Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan indicating that he should respond to the Opposition's demand.

Addressing a press conference, Kharge alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah were either "ignoring" Parliament or were afraid to face the two Houses. He demanded that both leaders apologise to students over the alleged use of force during recent protests.

Earlier in the day, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to "echo the sentiments" of the Opposition to the Home Minister after Opposition MPs demanded Shah's presence in the House.

The Chairman's remarks came during repeated disruptions in Question Hour, when Opposition members sought a statement from Shah on the issue. Radhakrishnan repeatedly urged protesting members to maintain order, assuring them they would get an opportunity to raise their concerns.

Sharing a video of the Chairman's remarks, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said he hoped the Parliamentary Affairs Minister would follow the Chair's "clear instructions".

Kharge said the Opposition had been demanding for the past 15 days that Shah explain who ordered the alleged lathi-charge on students, who authorised the firing of pellet guns and why tear gas shells were used against protesters.

"We are asking Amit Shah these questions. What is the problem in him coming to the House and making a statement? Parliament has been in session for the past 15 days, but the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are not coming to the House," Kharge said.

He argued that this meant either Modi and Shah were "ignoring" Parliament or were afraid to attend its proceedings.

Kharge also demanded that the Prime Minister apologise to students and their parents, saying the parliamentary deadlock persisted because neither Modi nor Shah had addressed the issue.

"Our MPs requested the Rajya Sabha Chairman that we want the Prime Minister's apology and the Home Minister's statement," he said.

"I am happy that today the Chairman told the Parliamentary Affairs Minister that it is the wish of the House, his own wish and that of everyone, that the Home Minister should come to the House and speak. But despite the Chairman's remarks, he could not be called," Kharge added.

The Congress chief alleged that whenever he rises to speak in the Rajya Sabha, ruling party MPs create disruptions, claiming the government itself was responsible for the impasse.

"We want the House to function properly and Amit Shah to come to the House and respond," he said.

Kharge also said that instead of saying he had forgiven students for using abusive language, the Prime Minister should apologise for the alleged use of violence and pellet guns against them.

Asked whether Parliament could function normally, Kharge said proceedings should continue after Shah makes a statement and the Prime Minister apologises.

Responding to a question on legislation being passed amid disruptions, Kharge recalled that former BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj had described disruptions as part of the parliamentary process when they were in the Opposition, and urged the government to allow a debate on the issue.