Rahul Gandhi dharna: Congress says BJP communalising pellet gun issue

As Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi staged a dharna at a Delhi police station on Friday, 21 August, the Congress accused the BJP of communalising the situation, evading accountability and raising non-issues, while demanding an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by a 19-year-old during the 20 July Delhi protests.

The Congress said the dharna would continue until Delhi Police registers an FIR over injuries suffered by Sahil Lochab during the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation, which featured a march to Parliament on 20 July.

"Our demand is simple — register an FIR and give us the FIR number. LoP Rahul Gandhi is giving voice to this demand," Congress Rajya Sabha MP and general-secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh told reporters at the Parliament Street police station. "Sahil has demanded an FIR on the illegal action of using a pellet gun by the police. Rahulji is clear that until a new FIR is registered, we will not leave."

Ramesh said the Congress was acting in accordance with the Constitution and was well within its rights to protest peacefully. He accused the BJP of attempting to "communalise the situation, evade accountability, evade responsibility and raise non-issues".

"An Indian youth anguished by the paper leak in the Staff Selection Commission was protesting on 20 July. He did not belong to any political party, he had no political affiliation and a pellet gun was used on him," Ramesh said.

Lochab lost vision in one eye and has pellet marks across his body, he said. "I don't see what in the law, what in the Constitution, what in the practice of good governance, prevents Delhi Police from registering an FIR in the case of Sahil," Ramesh said.

Gandhi accompanied Lochab to the Mandir Marg police station earlier in the day and sought registration of an FIR. When his demand was not accepted, he went to the Parliament Street police station and met deputy commissioner of police (central) Sachin Sharma.

After the meeting with Sharma failed to yield a result, Gandhi and Lochab sat on a dharna at the police station, which also houses the DCP's office. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Ramesh and other senior party leaders joined them.

Gandhi said "brutality" against a peaceful protest was a "serious crime". He also said neither Union home minister Amit Shah had offered an explanation for the use of pellet guns at the protest nor had Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologised.

Lochab suffered pellet injuries to his eyes and abdomen during the protest against the NEET 2026 paper leak and alleged examination irregularities. He later underwent surgery at the AIIMS trauma centre.

Sources said Lochab, accompanied by his lawyers, approached the police on 14 August and submitted a written complaint, but no FIR was registered. The matter was pursued again on 17 August through email and phone, but there was no acknowledgement from the police, they said.

Lochab subsequently sought Gandhi's help, following which the Congress leader accompanied him to demand registration of an FIR, the sources said. The DCP did not provide details of the case officer or the FIR number, they added.

The CJP-led agitation culminated in the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union education minister on 25 July.

With PTI inputs