05/08/2026
ЁЯУНNew Delhi | 5 August 2026
"Beaten. Trolled. Harassed. But not defeated."
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri. Rahul Gandhi ji, Yesterday stood alongside young protesters and students who shared their experiences of the alleged police action, detention, harassment and intimidation during the 20 July youth protests.
Throughout the media interaction, Rahul Gandhi ji chose to stand behind the students, allowing them to speak directly to the nation without interruption.
Among those who spoke was Rhiya Ahiir from Mumbai, who said she faced relentless online trolling and abuse after supporting protesting students. Nutan Tappo, a student from Jharkhand, alleged that pellet guns were used during the crackdown, leaving her seriously injured and requiring surgery. Farah Naaz alleged discriminatory treatment while in police custody. Other students also recounted their experiences of detention, assault and intimidation.
Rahul Gandhi ji said that speaking out against a flawed and failing education system is not a crime. He called for a better education system, an end to exam paper leaks, and a secure future for India's youth. He praised the courage of the students, saying they had stood up to defend the Constitution, the idea of India and the country's future.
Questioning Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi ji asked, "Where is Amit Shah hiding?" He reiterated that if such police action took place, the Home Minister was "either culpable or incompetent."
The interaction was presented as a platform for young voices to tell their stories directly, rather than as a conventional political press conference.
