Kharge, Rahul accuse government of targeting students, blocking social media accounts

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of targeting student protesters by filing First Information Reports (FIRs), detaining them, and blocking their social media accounts. Their statements came on July 31, 2026, following the withdrawal of the "Sansad Chalo" protest, which had drawn widespread attention earlier in the month. The two leaders alleged that the government had broken its promise not to take action against the students once they ceased their demonstrations. Kharge addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly in a series of tweets, recalling the government’s crackdown on students 10 days prior using batons, pellet guns, and other forceful measures. He accused the administration of retaliating against the students by initiating legal proceedings and detaining them. According to Kharge, the students had withdrawn their protest under the assurance that no punitive action would follow. However, he claimed the government had since violated that agreement, filing FIRs and detaining individuals as acts of vengeance. Additionally, he alleged that female protesters were being subjected to doxxing, a practice involving the exposure of private personal information online. Rahul Gandhi echoed these claims, accusing Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of attempting to silence a new generation of activists. In a tweet, he stated that the government had first physically harmed the students and now sought to suppress them digitally by removing their social media profiles. He warned that the current leadership represented India’s past and urged caution in how they treated the country’s future. Gandhi emphasized that the government could not intimidate young people into silence, adding that the authorities should reflect on their treatment of the younger generation. Kharge also criticized Amit Shah for his absence from Parliament during the period of heightened tension surrounding the student protests. He pointed out that the Home Minister had avoided appearing before lawmakers, seemingly unwilling to address concerns about accountability. This absence, according to Kharge, reflected a broader pattern of evading responsibility. He concluded his remarks by demanding Shah’s resignation, stating that the minister should step down if he still possessed any sense of integrity. The accusations come amid ongoing political disputes regarding the government’s handling of the protests. Opposition members have been vocal about the alleged excessive use of force by law enforcement and have called for investigations into the incidents. On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi had requested the formation of a high-powered committee monitored by the Supreme Court to look into the matter. Meanwhile, members of the Indian National Developmental and Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc staged a demonstration at Makar Dwar in the Parliament complex, holding signs questioning why Amit Shah had remained absent from parliamentary sessions. The controversy has also extended beyond the immediate issue of the student protests. During recent protests, allegations emerged about the misappropriation of donations meant for the construction of the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Kharge raised this concern in one of his posts, urging the government to provide clarity on the matter. These developments have further strained relations between the ruling party and the opposition, with each side accusing the other of undermining national unity and stability. As tensions continue to simmer, the situation remains unresolved. Both the government and the opposition have yet to offer definitive responses to the allegations made by Kharge and Gandhi. With calls for investigations and resignations growing louder, the coming days will likely see increased scrutiny of the events leading up to and following the student protests.