Rahul Gandhi Protest Highlights: 1st step towards justice, says Rahul Gandhi but targets govt over delay in FIR

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said an FIR on a complaint filed by pellet gun survivor Sahil marks the first step towards justice, but questioned the alleged requirement of Home Ministry permission. He wrote, "But just think—even the permission to file an FIR had to come from the Ministry of Home Affairs. Now I understand who has put a leash on justice".

Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra left Parliament Street Police Station after Delhi Police registered an FIR on Sahil Lochav’s complaint over his pellet-gun injuries during last month’s Jantar Mantar students’ protest under Sections 118 and 125 of the BNS.

(ANI Input)

Delhi: Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and student protester Sahil Lochav displayed the FIR copy after Delhi Police registered a case on Lochav’s complaint. Lochav had sustained pellet gun injuries during last month’s students’ protest at Jantar Mantar, prompting the complaint and subsequent police action.

-ANI

Delhi Police has registered an FIR in connection with the pellet gun case under Sections 118 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Section 118 deals with voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt using dangerous weapons or means, while Section 125 concerns acts endangering life or personal safety.

-Inputs by Anshul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Pune has received police permission, with organisers required to comply with 30 conditions, including a ban on objectionable photographs, posters and banners. The August 22 event at SSPMS College ground will see students, especially young women, discuss education, safety, equality, competitive exams and careers with Gandhi. Meanwhile, Gandhi staged a protest outside Delhi’s Parliament Street police station seeking an FIR over alleged pellet-gun use during a Jantar Mantar protest. Delhi Police later approved the FIR.

-Omkar Wable input

Haryana Cabinet Minister Anil Vij accused Rahul Gandhi of being "afflicted by an obsession with publicity" and a "desperate need to remain in the limelight". Vij said even straightforward matters were being turned into stunts. On Rahul’s sit-in, he noted that the Supreme Court had already appointed a high-level, five-member team headed by a former Supreme Court judge to investigate the Jantar Mantar matter. Vij urged him to trust the process, alleging his aim was to "spread anarchy across India".

-ANI

Congress leader Pawan Khera alleged that registering an FIR for a cognizable offence is a statutory right and a mandatory police duty under Section 173 of the BNSS, 2023. He accused the Delhi Police of avoiding an FIR in the Sahil Lochab pellet injury case, claiming that an investigation could lead to those who allegedly ordered firing on students and potentially implicate senior officials.

TRS leader K Kavitha attacked Rahul Gandhi over his protest in Delhi, questioning his silence on alleged police excesses in Telangana. Referring to the Mahabubabad incident, she said a police inspector under the Congress government was caught on camera allegedly manhandling polytechnic students protesting against GO 97. “Where was your outrage then?” Kavitha asked, accusing Gandhi of “double standards” and saying, “Delhi gets your outrage. Telangana gets your silence.”

"Rahul Gandhi ji, while you rush to file an FIR over police action in Delhi, why the complete silence on Congress police brutality in Telangana? You called it brutality. Good, you should have. Now look at Mahabubabad. On August 19, a police inspector serving under your own Congress Govt was caught on camera grabbing polytechnic students by the throat and manhandling them during a peaceful protest against GO 97. The videos of students gasping for breath are everywhere. Where was your outrage then? Students fighting for their future and their education are being treated like criminals under your own party's government in Telangana. Delhi gets your outrage. Telangana gets your silence. Our students deserve better than your double standards," she tweeted.

Congress leader Ragin Nayak backed Rahul Gandhi’s sit-in at Parliament Street Police Station, demanding an FIR over pellet injuries suffered during the July 20 protest. Nayak said she was proud of Gandhi for standing against "atrocities, injustice, brutality and cruelty" against students. She questioned Home Minister Amit Shah, saying, "if you did not order this firing," he should resign.

-PTI

Congress leaders and workers staged a protest near Le Meridian in support of Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi, who is protesting at Parliament Street Police Station alongside Sahil Lochav. Lochav sustained pellet gun injuries during last month’s Jantar Mantar student protest. Gandhi is demanding an FIR on Lochav’s written complaint.

-ANI

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of failing to address alleged police action against protesting students, including the use of pellet guns. Kharge claimed that injured student Sahil and his mother had repeatedly approached Delhi Police seeking an FIR, but were yet to receive a Daily Diary number, acknowledgment or MLC report from AIIMS. “What exactly is Amit Shah hiding?” Kharge asked, alleging that students faced lathi-charges, tear gas and pellet firing. He said Rahul Gandhi accompanied Sahil and his mother to the police station and DCP’s office, asserting that the Congress would fight to ensure justice.

Delhi Police has registered an FIR against unidentified persons in connection with the alleged pellet gun firing incident, acting on a complaint filed by Sahil Lochab. No individual has been named as an accused in the case so far. Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala and Priyanka Gandhi were present at the DCP office in connection with the matter as the complaint progressed. Further investigation is underway.

-Himanshu Mishra input

Advocate Sanket Gupta has filed a formal complaint with the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, seeking legal action against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others over their alleged unlawful assembly and sit-in outside the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district. Gupta has urged the police to examine whether the gathering was held without requisite permission and whether it obstructed the functioning of the police establishment, security personnel and citizens seeking access to the office. He has also sought a detailed inquiry and registration of an appropriate case against those found responsible, if any offence is established. Gupta said the law must apply equally to all, asserting that no political leader is above the Constitution or rule of law.

-Sushant Mehra input

As Congress leaders and workers led by Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in protest, party MP Priaynka Gandhi Vadra walked into the Parliament Street Police Station to talk to police officials.

-Muasami Singh input

Congress leader Gurdeep Singh Sappal said Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in at Delhi’s Sansad Marg Police Station after police allegedly failed to register an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by protester Sahil during the July 20 demonstration at Jantar Mantar. Sappal said Sahil and his mother, Jyoti, had repeatedly sought an investigation into who fired the pellets and who authorised the action. He alleged police turned them away for several days, prompting Gandhi to intervene and demand justice.

-PTI

NCP Working President Praful Patel said Rahul Gandhi has every right to protest, stressing that India’s democracy guarantees such freedoms. On youth-related concerns, Patel said Prime Minister Narendra Modi is closely monitoring the issues and has taken steps to address their expectations. He also noted that Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation demonstrated the seriousness attached to the matter.

-ANI

Union Minister JP Nadda on Thursday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his sit-in protest, accusing him of indulging in "cheap politics" and seeking publicity. Nadda said the protest was neither aimed at seeking justice nor concerned with children, but was driven by Gandhi’s "hunger for publicity". He alleged that Gandhi’s decision to stage the protest before television cameras reflected a "camera-obsessed" approach, claiming the Congress leader was more interested in creating a political spectacle than addressing substantive issues.

-ANI

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said the party’s demand was simple — register an FIR in Sahil Lochav’s case and provide the FIR number. Ramesh said Sahil had made a genuine demand for an FIR over the alleged illegal use of a pellet gun by police, and that Rahul Gandhi was giving voice to this demand. He added that Rahul Gandhi had made it clear that they would not leave Parliament Street Police Station until a new FIR was registered. Ramesh said the protest was being carried out in accordance with the Constitution.

At Parliament Street Police Station, pellet gun injury victim Sahil Lochav’s lawyer alleged that police initially refused to take up his complaint after he approached the authorities on August 14. He said the complaint was returned after officials read it and claimed that the SHO told him over the phone that the case would not be taken up as they had received “orders from above”.