NDA leaders on Tuesday accused Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of avoiding a discussion in Parliament on the police action against student protesters, while the Congress maintained its demand for Union Home Minister Amit Shah to respond to allegations surrounding the July 20 march to Parliament. The confrontation added to the continuing disruption in the House over the issue.

BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that the Opposition was creating a ruckus despite the government being prepared to discuss the matter. He also raised the issue of protests by students in Jharkhand, where the BJP has alleged that demonstrators faced lathi-charge and tear gas during agitation over examination-related concerns. Prasad argued that the Congress-backed Jharkhand government should also be held accountable for the treatment of protesting students.

Other NDA leaders, including Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, also targeted Gandhi. Athawale alleged that the Leader of Opposition frequently demanded resignations, while Shinde argued that the government had agreed to a discussion but the Opposition was still preventing Parliament from functioning. BJP MP K. Laxman similarly urged Gandhi to participate in the debate and respond to allegations concerning student protests in Jharkhand.

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BJP MP Manoj Tiwari also criticised Gandhi over the issue, accusing him of supporting what he described as excessive force against protesters. The NDA leaders further pointed to the Congress's alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in the state while demanding accountability from the state government over the handling of student demonstrations.

The Congress, however, reiterated that its primary demand was for Home Minister Amit Shah to personally address allegations regarding the use of force during the July 20 student march to Parliament. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi questioned whether Shah had authorised the alleged use of pellet guns and demanded that he clarify who ordered the action. Gogoi also argued that the Home Minister should accept responsibility if the allegations are established.

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari also demanded answers regarding the alleged use of lathis, nail-studded batons and pellet guns against protesters. The competing allegations have kept the issue at the centre of the political confrontation in Parliament, with the NDA accusing the Opposition of obstructing proceedings and the Congress insisting that the Home Minister must first respond to allegations concerning the police action.

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