Who gave the order to use pellet guns

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, speaking during the Lok Sabha debate on the amendment to the anti-paper leak bill, recounted her visit to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital to meet a Delhi student who was battling for her life in the ICU after being injured in a police lathicharge. Gandhi said the student’s mother was visibly distressed by the repeated visits of political leaders and asked, “Why have you come?” According to her, the woman stood outside the ICU with folded and trembling hands and said she did not want to meet or speak to anyone.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra used her speech during the Lok Sabha debate on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill to question the government’s response to the nationwide student protests, call for accountability over the alleged use of force against demonstrators, criticise the education system and raise concerns over the appointment of the new Union Education Minister, Pralhad Joshi.

Referring to the government’s handling of the protests, Priyanka Gandhi questioned the alleged use of tear gas, lathi charges, water cannons, pellet guns and AK-47s against students.

“Were they terrorists? Who gave the order to use pellet guns? Did the Prime Minister give the order? Did the Home Minister give the order?”

She said these were questions being asked not only by the Congress but also by students, parents, teachers and citizens across the country.

The Congress MP said Parliament was accountable to the people and that governments must answer citizens rather than suppress dissent.

She said thousands of students had protested peacefully, exercising their democratic right to raise concerns over repeated paper leaks and the examination system. According to her, students had demanded action against those responsible, reforms to the system, accountability from those in charge and an apology for the alleged police action.

Priyanka Gandhi argued that India’s education system was already under immense pressure because of coaching costs, unemployment and repeated examination failures. (UPDATED ON 28TH JULY 2026)