BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised Rahul Gandhi’s dharna outside Delhi’s Parliament Street Police Station, while the Congress leader demanded an FIR over alleged pellet-gun injuries to a student during a July 20 protest.
Rahul Gandhi Stages Police Station Protest
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday staged a sit-in outside the Parliament Street Police Station in New Delhi, demanding registration of an FIR over alleged pellet-gun injuries suffered by 19-year-old Sahil Lochab during a student protest at Jantar Mantar on July 20.
Gandhi reached the police station with Lochab and sought details of the investigation from Delhi Police officials. After meeting New Delhi district DCP Sachin Sharma, Gandhi continued his protest outside the police station.
The Congress leader has alleged that the police action against protesters involved excessive force and has questioned why a formal FIR has not been registered on Lochab's complaint.
BJP Targets Congress Protest
Reacting to the demonstration, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Gandhi and the Congress of engaging in what he described as “anarchic politics” rather than democratic politics.
Prasad questioned the decision to stage a dharna at a police station without prior notice or permission. He argued that Gandhi, as the Leader of Opposition, should respect the established legal process.
The BJP leader also said that the matter was already under investigation and questioned the need for political pressure at the police station.
FIR Demand Drives Confrontation
The immediate trigger for Friday's confrontation was the Congress demand for an FIR concerning the alleged use of pellet guns during the July 20 demonstration.
According to Congress sources, Lochab and his lawyers submitted a written complaint to Delhi Police on August 14. The party has claimed that they did not receive an investigation officer number or acknowledgement and followed up again on August 17.
Gandhi subsequently accompanied Lochab to the police station to press for action on the complaint.
Student Suffered Pellet Injuries
Lochab was among protesters reportedly injured during the July 20 demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Reports have said that several protesters suffered pellet injuries, with Lochab sustaining particularly serious injuries to his eye.
A police General Diary entry reported by multiple publications has added to the controversy. It stated that the Rapid Action Force used anti-riot equipment, including ballistic cartridges containing plastic pellets, following instructions from a senior police officer at the protest site.
The allegations have since become a political flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP.
Congress Seeks Accountability
Gandhi has maintained that the issue is not merely about one injured student but about accountability for police action against protesters.
The Congress has questioned who authorised the use of pellet guns and why the alleged victims have not received a clear response to their complaints.
Gandhi's decision to remain at the police station was intended to increase pressure on the authorities to register the case and initiate formal criminal proceedings.
BJP Cites Legal Process
The BJP, however, has argued that political demonstrations should not interfere with an ongoing investigation.
Prasad said the police had already informed Gandhi about the investigation and maintained that the appropriate process should be allowed to take its course. He also referred to a high-powered committee constituted by the Supreme Court in connection with the broader matter.
The BJP's criticism has turned the police-station protest into another point of confrontation between the ruling party and the Opposition.
Political Row Intensifies
The Parliament Street episode comes amid growing political friction over the handling of the July 20 protest. Congress leaders have portrayed the alleged pellet-gun injuries as evidence of excessive police force, while the BJP has accused the Opposition of politicising an issue that is under investigation.
The controversy is likely to continue as questions remain over the police action, the status of Lochab's complaint and whether a formal FIR will be registered.
For now, the dispute has expanded beyond the alleged injuries, becoming another political battle over protest rights, police accountability and the limits of political intervention in an ongoing investigation.
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