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Rahul Gandhi backs NSUI activists who allege they were assaulted during protests in Delhi. (Img: X)
New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday backed National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) activists who alleged that they were assaulted by Delhi Police personnel during protests demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Addressing a press conference alongside the student protesters, Gandhi warned that those found responsible for the alleged incidents would face consequences. He also urged the protesters to preserve video recordings and other evidence, saying the material could be used to pursue accountability after the matter concludes.
His remarks brought renewed attention to the confrontation between protesting student activists and the police, while escalating the political exchange involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the Election Commission.
Speaking at the press conference, Gandhi described the demonstration as a collective voice cutting across religious, caste and gender divisions.
“This is India,” he said, addressing Shah and arguing that the protest represented a shared voice rather than one defined by identity.
Gandhi urged the government not to stand against that voice. His comments were aimed at highlighting what he described as the broader significance of the protest and the participation of students from different backgrounds.
He also addressed police personnel directly, asking the protesters to retain video evidence of the alleged incidents and share it with the Congress.
Gandhi said he wanted those responsible to be held accountable, referring to people at different levels, from senior political figures to police personnel allegedly involved in the incidents. These were political remarks and demands for accountability, not findings of legal responsibility.
During the press conference, Gandhi introduced a woman protester as “our sherni”, praising her for remaining fearless despite what he described as an assault.
The woman alleged that a female constable assaulted her while NSUI activists were being detained. According to her account, protesters had been taken away in three buses, with approximately 30 to 40 people in each vehicle.
She alleged that when detainees attempted to get off the bus to continue their demonstration, a woman constable whom she identified as Chanchal Yadav grabbed her by the neck and pushed her.
The allegation has not been independently established in the information available for this report. A response from the police officer concerned or the Delhi Police was not included in the supplied account.
Another NSUI activist alleged that he and a colleague were beaten by police personnel after being detained.
He said he had joined the protest on the fourth and was detained the following morning. According to his account, he and another activist, identified as Dharmendra, were taken to Parliament Street police station, where he alleged that 15 to 20 personnel assaulted them.
The protester further alleged that one or two individuals were in plain clothes and named a person as Bahab Singh Tomar.
These claims require independent verification, including any available video footage, medical records, detention documentation and an official police response. The allegations should not be treated as established facts without corroborating evidence.
The confrontation is linked to demonstrations demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The protests have drawn political attention as opposition groups and student activists challenge the Election Commission leadership.
The NSUI activists’ allegations have added another dimension to the dispute: whether protesters were treated lawfully during detention and whether alleged instances of excessive force will be investigated.
The competing issues of the right to peaceful protest, police responsibilities during crowd control and accountability for alleged misconduct are likely to remain central to the debate.
