‘Can’t hide behind closed doors’: Kharge slams Shah for police brutality during stir

Mallikarjun Kharge said the bill has just been tabled to quell the anger of student.

NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Centre during the debate on the anti-paper leak Bill, alleging that the proposed legislation failed to address the root causes of examination paper leaks and was brought only after the government feared growing student protests.The Congress president also held Union home minister Amit Shah responsible for the police action against protesting students in Delhi on July 20 and criticised both Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for remaining silent over the demonstrations.“Home minister Amit Shah responsible for atrocities on students, he can’t hide behind closed doors,” Kharge said in the Rajya Sabha.Targeting the home minister and the prime minister over their silence, Kharge said, “PM, home minister silent on students protests; if they don’t speak up, students would teach them a lesson once again.”Speaking during the debate, Kharge questioned Shah’s absence from the House despite the recent protests.“Our Home Minister Amit Shah is not visible… he speaks over small issues, goes everywhere but not coming here. Even the PM is not speaking. You are the home minister, oversees law and order and so much happened in Delhi but you didn’t open your mouth. You should have spoken openly. Sometimes, you have to face insult too for country’s betterment.”Kharge alleged that the government had introduced the Bill only after public anger over repeated examination irregularities intensified.“Government bowed down before students out of fear of losing ‘kursi,’ not to solve their problems.”He also accused the Centre of delaying legislation for political reasons.“You didn’t propose anti-paper leak Bill in 2024 as you felt it will not gain you much politically with LS polls approaching.”Arguing that the proposed law merely amended the existing legislation without addressing systemic flaws in the examination process, Kharge said the Bill would not prevent future paper leaks.“So many innocent people suffered due to paper leaks… nothing is going to happen with this new Bill as only some data has been changed in old law. Provisions have been made for hefty fine, strict punishment, special task force, fast track courts, however, nothing is going to change.

Real change will only happen how you conduct examinations. There is nothing new in the bill. We had demanded a strict law in 2024 itself, but our demand was rejected.“Kharge further demanded that the government introduce a time-bound annual examination calendar to ensure students are not left uncertain about recruitment and entrance examinations.“Leader of Opposition Kharge seeks time-bound annual calender to ensure future of students is not put in uncertainty.”