Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday offered the Opposition a 24-hour window to participate in a detailed discussion in Parliament, saying he was ready to answer all questions and remain in the House through the night if required. His proposal came amid a continuing logjam in Parliament over the treatment of protesting students.
Speaking to mediapersons outside Parliament, Shah urged Opposition parties to submit a letter to the Speaker by 2 pm, following which the discussion could begin at 3 pm. He said he would remain present in the House from 3 pm on Wednesday until 3 pm on Thursday to hear the Opposition and respond to every issue raised during the debate.
Shah stressed that parliamentary proceedings had established rules and procedures for discussing serious issues and that such matters could not be adequately addressed through a brief statement.
“There are established rules and procedures for parliamentary discussions. Such a serious issue cannot be discussed simply through a statement. In Parliament, discussions are held at length,” Shah said.
The Home Minister also indicated his willingness to suspend Question Hour if permitted by the Lok Sabha Speaker to facilitate the discussion. He said he was prepared to sit through the debate until 3 pm on Thursday, take notes on the points raised by Opposition members and respond to each of them.
According to Shah, a detailed discussion in Parliament would provide an opportunity to place facts before the country and clarify the circumstances surrounding the issue. He also challenged the Opposition to decide whether it wanted to engage in a substantive parliamentary debate or continue creating disruptions in the House.
“I am ready for the discussion to go on until 3 PM tomorrow. I will sit through it myself, take notes on everything, and respond to every point,” Shah said.
The Home Minister’s offer, however, failed to satisfy the Opposition, with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi rejecting what he described as an attempt to deliver a lecture instead of providing answers.
Gandhi said the Opposition was not interested in listening to a lengthy address from Shah and wanted specific answers regarding the treatment of students who had been protesting.
“The Opposition has clearly said that we are not interested in Amit Shah giving us a lecture,” Gandhi said, adding that he was raising the concerns of the younger generation.
Gandhi questioned who had ordered the alleged firing on students and the reported use of lathis with nails against protesters. He directly questioned whether Shah had ordered the action and said that if the Home Minister was responsible, he should resign.
The Congress leader also alleged that Shah had been absent from the issue for nearly 20 days and accused him of lacking the courage to appear in Parliament and address the Opposition’s concerns.
The sharp exchange between the Home Minister and the Leader of Opposition reflects the widening political divide over the student protests. While the government is pressing for a structured parliamentary debate, the Opposition is demanding direct answers and accountability over the alleged treatment of protesters.
With Shah offering to remain in Parliament for 24 hours to address the Opposition’s concerns, the next move now rests with the Opposition parties. Whether the offer leads to a substantive debate or further disruption is likely to determine the course of proceedings in the House.
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