‘Goli kahaan chali hai?’: Rijiju says no one was harmed during CJP-led student protest, praises Delhi Police

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has rejected allegations of police brutality during the recent student protests in Delhi over the NEET-UG paper leak, saying the police handled the demonstrations peacefully and deserved praise.

Referring to the July 20 march towards Parliament, Rijiju questioned claims that police had used excessive force or fired weapons during the protests.

“Kahan goli chali hai?” he said in an interview with ANI, adding that no protester had died, suffered a broken bone or sustained a serious injury.

Rijiju also accused “criminals” and political groups of joining the protests while posing as students and attempting to provoke violence. He praised the Delhi Police and other authorities for preventing the situation from escalating.

‘Not one lathi used’

The Union minister claimed that police did not use even a single lathi during the protest and intervened only when demonstrators attempted to march towards Parliament.

“There were no deaths, right? So shouldn’t we praise cops?” Rijiju said, arguing that the police were responsible for protecting protesters as well as maintaining order.

His comments come amid a major controversy over the police response to the July 20 demonstration organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

Visuals from the protest showed police using lathis against demonstrators, while allegations also emerged that pellet guns had been used.

Allegations of pellet-gun use

Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, have accused security personnel of using pellet guns during the protest. Reports had also indicated that at least a dozen Rapid Action Force personnel were issued pellet guns on the morning of July 20.

The weapons were reportedly withdrawn after allegations surfaced that they had been used against protesters, according to officials familiar with an internal RAF inquiry.

Despite Rijiju’s claim that no one suffered serious injuries, several protesters said they were struck by pellets during the Parliament march. Students also repeatedly alleged that police used tear gas, including during protests on July 25.

Opposition targets government in Parliament

Allegations of police excesses have become a recurring issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi, have demanded a statement from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged use of lathis, tear gas, shock batons and pellet guns.

Gandhi had also displayed the injuries of a student who allegedly suffered eye damage during the protest and questioned the government’s denial that pellet guns were used.

The government has maintained that pellet guns were not used against protesters.

The dispute has continued to fuel clashes between the government and Opposition, with several Opposition leaders alleging that questions concerning the police action are being disallowed or left unanswered in Parliament.