Delhi Police personnel misbehaved with protesters, Amit Shah must answer: Rahul Gandhi

Police and media argue during a protest against CEC Gyanesh Kumar near Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on October 3, 2026. | Photo credit: Sushil Kumar Verma

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (October 3, 2026) demanded answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah on allegations of misbehavior with women by Delhi Police personnel during a protest at Jantar Mantar.

In a post by X in Hindi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said that since the Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs, Amit Shah has to answer.

“A woman journalist accused a police officer of misconduct at Jantar Mantar. Hundreds of journalists sat there for hours with only one demand: that an FIR be registered. Isn’t it the basic duty of the police? They didn’t even do it,” Gandhi said in his post in Hindi.

He said hundreds of people were taken into custody at Jantar Mantar on Saturday (October 3, 2026) alone.

“There are allegations of inappropriate behavior towards protesters. Cameras have been snatched, journalists have been dragged away. And this is not the first time – we have seen video footage of policemen engaging in disgusting inappropriate behavior towards women before,” he said.

He alleged that women and students in Delhi, gripped by fear for their safety, are staging a satyagraha but the police responsible for their protection are raising their hands against them instead.

“And a government that is afraid to register even one woman’s complaint – what exactly are they protecting? Delhi Police comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Amit Shah ji, where are you? You have to answer for this,” Mr Gandhi wrote.

A similar complaint was filed by the left-wing student organization All India Students’ Association (AISA).

“Women protesters, journalists and lawyers were manhandled by male police. Several women complained of being groped by male police personnel,” AISA said in a statement.

“The police, who claim to provide justice to women, cannot follow basic crowd management protocols. Male police officers openly abused women protesters and behaved in the most unprofessional manner,” the statement said.

Published – 04 Oct 2026 03:23 IST