'A child's eye was lost, another's ear severed': Rahul slams Rijiju over student injury claim

Sharing a video of Rijiju's remarks on X, Gandhi alleged that police used excessive force against students protesting the Centre and demanding the resignation of then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

"Ministers of the Modi government are saying that 'the Delhi Police should be praised'. Half a kilometre from Parliament, pellet guns were fired at peaceful students, lathis studded with nails were used, one child's eye was lost, one girl's ear was severed. Should we praise this brutality?" Gandhi said.

The Congress leader was referring to the police action on July 20, when protesting students marched towards Parliament.

Gandhi says he met injured protesters

Gandhi said he had personally met several of the injured protesters and claimed that thousands of videos documenting the police action had been viewed by people across the country.

"The fundamental mantra of this government is untruth and violence. First, beat the children with lathis, then claim that nothing happened at all," he alleged.

Gandhi further accused the government of attempting to mislead young people and warned that such claims would not erase what the protesters had experienced.

"Don't lie to the children of this country. They have eyes and memories too," he said.

Rijiju defends Delhi Police

Rijiju, meanwhile, strongly defended the Delhi Police and the administration while speaking to news agency ANI.

Responding to questions about the protests, the minister said no one had died, no protester had suffered a broken bone and no demonstrator was in hospital with a serious injury.

"Not a single person died, not a single person suffered a broken bone. Not a single protester is admitted to the hospital with a serious injury," Rijiju said.

He also alleged that the student protest was joined by members and supporters of several political groups and accused them of provoking the crowd and attempting to incite violence.

'Delhi Police deserves praise': Rijiju

Rijiju said the police should instead be praised for managing a protest involving thousands of people without any deaths or serious injuries.

"In this case, one ought to praise the Delhi Police and the administration," he said, adding that the police intervened only when protesters forcefully marched towards Parliament.

The minister also rejected allegations that police had fired bullets during the protest and said no lathi-charge had taken place.

"No one died, right? So shouldn't the police be praised? The police are also there for our safety," Rijiju said.

The contrasting claims by Gandhi and Rijiju have intensified the political confrontation over the July student protests and the police response to the march towards Parliament.