Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Aug 10: After Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju assured the Lok Sabha that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is ready to make a statement on the students' protest, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal questioned why Shah remained absent from Parliament for days and was now willing to speak with only two days left in the Monsoon Session.
Amid loud sloganeering from the Opposition benches, Rijiju told the House that Shah would make a statement on the students' protest and urged the Opposition not to “run away” during the discussion.
Speaking to reporters, Venugopal said the Congress had been demanding a statement from the Home Minister since July 21.
“That is what we have been asking for from Day 1. Since July 21, we have been demanding a statement from the Home Minister. But since July 21, the Home Minister has been absent from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha,” he said.
“Now, only two days are left. The session is going to be adjourned sine die on Thursday. Where is the Home Minister?” Venugopal questioned.
Earlier, Venugopal wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to direct Shah to make a statement in the House regarding the police action against demonstrators.
In his letter, the Congress MP expressed concern over reports of alleged police brutality and disproportionate use of force, including the alleged firing of pellet guns, against students and young protesters in the national Capital.
Referring to his letter, Venugopal said, “I wrote a letter to the Speaker, citing constitutional provisions. Power lies with the Speaker to ask the Home Minister to come and make a statement related to atrocities against the students... Every minister is accountable to Parliament.”
“Amit Shah ji is completely hiding; I don't know where he is going. There were two Bills which he should have presented, but he did not come,” Venugopal added.
The Monsoon Session entered its final week on Monday, but Opposition protests continued over the NEET paper leak issue and the police action against protesters on July 20.
After the proceedings resumed in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju said the government was ready to discuss the students' issue and that Shah was prepared to give a detailed reply.
“Congress and Rahul Gandhi were demanding that Home Minister Amit Shah should give a statement. The government is ready to discuss the students' issue and the Home Minister is ready to give a detailed reply,” Rijiju said.