Govt offers debate on student protests, Opposition sets demands

The Story in Brief

The government on Monday offered a full-fledged debate on student protests and police action in Parliament, with Home Minister Amit Shah to give a point-by-point reply. Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju made the offer in the Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee, calling on the Opposition to cooperate. But the Congress and Samajwadi Party insisted on two separate discussions: one on the police action, and another on alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

Rahul Gandhi set three red lines: a statement from Amit Shah on who authorised the alleged firing and lathi-charge on students, an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and accountability over the Ram temple theft. He said the Opposition is not interested in a general speech from Shah. Only three sittings remain in the monsoon session, which ends on August 13. The Federal reports that some analysts see the government's timing as an attempt to split the Opposition, since the SP and Congress differ on which issue to prioritise.