The Congress on Tuesday said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was a “coward” for not being present in the Lok Sabha as the Opposition continued to demand a discussion on police action against youth protesters in Delhi on July 20.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Shah was a “no-show” in the Lok Sabha despite business being listed against his name. He said that Shah’s absence from both Houses for 17 sitting days was “truly unprecedented”.

“Once again, he has proved that those who intimidate are themselves cowards,” Ramesh said.

The Monsoon Session, which began on July 20, is scheduled to conclude on Thursday.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju rejected the charge, saying that the government was ready for a “complete and detailed discussion” on the students’ protests and police action and that Shah was ready with his reply. He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of having “run away” and shouting slogans outside Parliament instead of participating in the debate, ANI reported.

Opposition and National Democratic Alliance MPs held separate protests at the Parliament complex on Tuesday, IANS reported.

Opposition MPs demanded Shah’s presence in Parliament, while MPs from the ruling National Democratic Alliance staged a counter-protest against the lathi-charge on students in Jharkhand.

Bharatiya Janata Party leaders raised the subject of the police action in Jharkhand, where the Congress is part of the ruling Mahagathbandhan alliance led by Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s Jharkhand Mukti Morcha.

Congress leaders said the comparison was misplaced, arguing that responsibility for police action lies with the government under whose jurisdiction it occurs.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore said that the Delhi Police comes under Shah, while Rahul Gandhi is neither the chief minister nor the home minister of Jharkhand, ANI reported.

On Monday, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that the deadlock in Parliament would continue until Shah makes a statement on police action against the youth protesters.

The police action in Delhi came during protests against the alleged mismanagement of several competitive examinations. The agitation, which culminated in the resignation of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Dharmendra Pradhan as the Union education minister, was led by the Cockroach Janta Party political campaign.

A crackdown by security personnel on July 20 had left dozens injured, with protesters reporting injuries from lathis and pellet guns. The Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces report to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Written by Sara Varghese. Edited by Tanya Shrivastava.

We welcome your comments at letters@scroll.in.