BJP rejects Rahul Gandhi's claim Amit Shah ordered firing at protesting students, calls it a lie

The BJP on Wednesday, July 29, rejected as a "lie" Rahul Gandhi's claim that students were shot at during their march to Parliament last week following Home Minister Amit Shah's order. The BJP, in turn, alleges that the Congress leader is attempting to spread confusion and incite anarchy for political gains.

Addressing back-to-back two press conferences at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra also slammed Gandhi for his remarks that Shah travels in a convoy of 30 cars because he is scared.

"It is a lie. Even the prime minister's cavalcade perhaps does not have 30 cars. Rahul Gandhi, come and show me where are those 30 cars that you saw in Amit Shah's convoy," the BJP MP said.

On Gandhi's remarks in the Lok Sabha that the Union home minister was "trembling in fear", Patra hit back and said Shah is the man who makes Naxalites and terrorists tremble in fear.

The BJP's response came after Gandhi alleged that Shah had authorised police excesses and firing against student protesters, triggering a massive uproar in the Lok Sabha during a debate on a bill to amend the anti-paper leaks law.

The BJP hit back, accusing the leader of opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha of telling a "bundle of lies", and demanded that he apologise for "misusing" the House by making "baseless" allegations.

"Rahul Gandhi said that bullets were fired at the students. He lied. No bullet was fired. He also lied that Home Minister Amit Shah ordered the firing," Patra said, asking, "When no bullets were fired, where does the question of anyone ordering firing arise?"

Wherever there is a protest or march, a magistrate present at the spot decides what action should be taken when the situation is going out of control, not the home minister, he said.

"Just because the Delhi Police comes under the home ministry, this does not mean the home minister is issuing orders for every such situation," he said, accusing the LoP of attempting to mislead the country with his "bundle of lies".

Patra also slammed Gandhi for his remark that he saw Shah speaking to police and Union minister Jitendra Singh over the phone, asking the Congress leader, "How did you see? Were you sitting inside the home minister's office?"

He alleged that Gandhi and the Congress are engaged in spreading confusion and inciting anarchy by peddling falsehood because they cannot return to power by winning elections.

The BJP leader also rejected as a "lie" Gandhi's allegation that he was not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha, saying Speaker Om Birla gave him "enough opportunity" but he did not rise from his seat and speak.

"Perhaps he was not prepared. That's why he could not speak," the BJP leader said.

Terming Gandhi's allegation that he was not allowed to speak as "absolutely wrong", Patra said 45 members, including Priyanka Gandhi spoke in the Lok Sabha.

"He himself turned his mike off and started alleging that his mike was turned off. The entire world saw his mike was on but he did not see it because he cannot look down. He always keeps both his hands in his pockets so that he can take out victim cards, saying his mike was turned off and that he was not allowed to speak," he added.

Patra slammed Gandhi, accusing him of using some unparliamentary words during his speech in the Lok Sabha.

"Rahul Gandhi talked about three categories -- students, idiots and 'andhbhakts'... If Rahul Gandhi classified those protesting at Jantar Mantar into these three categories, then such remarks should also offend the protesters who were present there. With this categorisation, he insulted the students of the country. It is unpardonable," he said.

All members present in the House witnessed that the speaker was repeatedly asking Gandhi if he wished to speak, Patra added.

All the students in this country are patriots, none of the students are "idiots or 'andhbhakts'", the BJP leader said.

Patra alleged that Gandhi is trying to play a game of "credit chori and political mileage" over the student protest, saying the LoP will continue to do this during the entire Monsoon session.

"Apologise Rahul Gandhi for spreading falsehood and confusion. You try to create anarchy in the country.

"You tried to do this in the House and failed. Rahul Gandhi, this will not work. You will have to apologise," the BJP leader said.

Gandhi and the Congress are engaged in spreading confusion and inciting anarchy by peddling falsehood because they cannot return to power by winning elections, Patra alleged.