New Delhi [India], August 19: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday hit back at Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of the Delhi Police's handling of protests against the NEET paper leak, asserting that the "life and security" of citizens remain the government's top priority and contrasting the Modi government's response with incidents of police firing and deaths during agitations under Congress governments.
In a post on X, Rijiju said no life was lost during the student protests over the NEET examination paper leak despite attempts by "criminals" to exploit the situation.
"Life & security of the citizens should be top priority for the Govt. No life was lost during the students protest on NEET Exam paper leaks despite many criminals tried to take advantage," Rijiju said.
Rijiju's remarks came after Rahul Gandhi accused the government of using force against peaceful student protesters and questioned the Union Minister's praise for the Delhi Police.
Gandhi, in a post on X on Tuesday, alleged that pellet guns and lathis were used against students and claimed that some protesters suffered serious injuries. He said ministers should not praise what he described as police "brutality".
"Ministers of the Modi government are saying that 'the Delhi Police should be praised.' Half a kilometre from Parliament, pellet guns were fired at peaceful students, lathis studded with nails were used, one child's eye was lost, one girl's ear was severed. Should we praise this brutality?" Gandhi said.
Rijiju, however, defended the handling of the protests, saying authorities exercised restraint while managing large crowds. He also cited several historical instances of police firing and deaths during agitations under Congress governments.
He referred to the 1969 Telangana movement, saying historical accounts recorded 369 deaths, many of them students killed in police firing. He also cited the Turkman Gate demolition and police firing during the Emergency in 1976, noting that reported death figures varied.
Rijiju further mentioned the Muzaffarnagar anti-sterilisation protests of 1976, the Moga agitation in Punjab in 1972 and the Nav Nirman Movement in Gujarat in 1973-74. He also cited the Multai farmers' agitation in Madhya Pradesh in 1998, Mudigonda land agitation in Andhra Pradesh in 2007 and police firing during protests at Sompeta and Kakarapalli in Andhra Pradesh.
The Union Minister also referred to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project protests in Maharashtra in 2011, in which one protester was killed in police firing.
"There [are] many more police firing cases during Congress. These incidents provide a chronological record of major protest movements and agitations in which deaths occurred in police firing or related police action while Congress governments were in power. Our govt has been showing maximum restrain in all agitations," Rijiju said.
Gandhi, meanwhile, accused the government of relying on "untruth and violence" and said he had personally met students who were injured during the protests.
"Don't lie to the children of this country. They have eyes and memories too," Gandhi said.
Rijiju had earlier told ANI that no person was harmed during the demonstrations and that police used force only when protesters attempted to breach barricades and move towards Parliament. He said the Delhi Police and administration deserved appreciation for preventing casualties.
The NEET protests have taken place amid wider concerns among students over examination irregularities and paper leaks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also said that the government would establish fast-track courts to ensure swift punishment for those responsible for paper leaks.