New Delhi [India], August 6 : Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Thursday submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha seeking suspension of the day's business to discuss the police action during a protest held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20.
The Congress MP has also sought a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the incident.
In his notice addressed to the Secretary-General of the Lok Sabha, Tagore said the matter was of "definite and urgent public importance" and warranted immediate discussion in the House.
Seeking a discussion, the Congress MP said, "Reports and allegations arising from the incident have raised serious concerns regarding the nature and proportionality of force used to disperse the protesters. It has been alleged that lathi charges, pellet guns, tear gas, and water cannons were used against students, including women participants, resulting in injuries and widespread public concern. These allegations require a full, fair and transparent examination."
The notice seeks answers from the government on who authorised the police action, whether the use of force complied with the law, established police procedures and constitutional safeguards governing peaceful assemblies, and whether pellet guns, tear gas, water cannons or other crowd-control measures were used and under what circumstances.
The motion also seeks details on the number of students, including women, who were injured, detained or arrested during the protest, whether any complaints alleging police misconduct or excessive use of force have been received, and the action taken on such complaints.
Tagore has further asked whether the government will order an "independent, impartial and time-bound judicial inquiry" into the incident to establish the facts and fix accountability.
The Congress MP has also sought details of the number of FIRs registered against students in connection with the protest, the offences invoked and the reasons for initiating criminal proceedings. He has asked whether the government would withdraw all FIRs registered against students and assure the House that peaceful student protests and democratic dissent would not be met with police action, criminal prosecution or any other form of legal coercion.
The notice further asks whether the government proposes to engage with students through dialogue to address their grievances instead of coercive measures.
Tagore also sought to know "whether, in view of the widespread public concern arising from the incident, the Hon'ble Prime Minister will make a statement in Parliament expressing regret and tender an apology to the students if the inquiry establishes that excessive or unjustified force was used against peaceful protesters."
In his notice, the Congress MP said, "The allegations surrounding this incident have generated widespread public concern and raise serious issues relating to the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech and expression, the right to peaceful assembly, the protection of civil liberties, and public confidence in law enforcement agencies. The House has a duty to examine these issues and hold the Government accountable."
"I, therefore, request that the normal business of the House be adjourned to enable an immediate discussion on this matter and to require the Hon'ble Union Home Minister, Shri Amit Shah, to make a comprehensive statement before Parliament regarding the incident and the action proposed by the Government," the Congress MP's notice added.