Rahul Gandhi Accuses Delhi Police of Refusing to Register FIR Over Assault on Students

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has accused Delhi Police of refusing to register a First Information Report (FIR) over the alleged assault on student protesters, claiming that two young women, Athira from Kerala and Ritu from Rajasthan, along with several others, were beaten by police personnel.

In a statement, Rahul Gandhi said he had spoken to Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Govind Singh Dotasra regarding the incident. He said a Zero FIR had already been registered in Kerala and vowed to pursue all available legal avenues against the police officers allegedly responsible, including proceedings in Kerala, Rajasthan and the courts.

Accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of overseeing Delhi Police, Gandhi said the alleged police brutality would not go unchecked.

Referring to the 1930 Dharasana Satyagraha during India's freedom struggle, Gandhi recalled how Sarojini Naidu led unarmed protesters who faced police baton charges without retaliating. He said the incident had drawn international attention to the non-violent resistance movement.

“Police can break bones. They cannot break a satyagraha,” Gandhi said, emphasising that physical force could not suppress the spirit of peaceful resistance.

He described India's youth, particularly young women, as fearless, determined and united, saying they were standing up for democracy and reaffirmed his support for the protesting students.