Political Accountability: BJP and Congress Demand Resignations Over Police Actions

The political dynamics in India can shift dramatically over a span of fifteen years, yet the debates within Parliament often echo the past. In 2011, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), then serving as the Opposition, created a significant uproar in Parliament following a violent incident involving police action against Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists who were marching towards the Parliament during the Monsoon Session. The protests escalated into chaos near Parliament Street, but the BJP's focus was not on the actions of the protesters. Instead, they demanded accountability from the then Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, insisting that he take moral responsibility for the police's heavy-handed response and resign from his position. Fast forward to 2026, and the political narrative seems to have come full circle. After a similar incident on July 20, where students marching towards Parliament faced police lathi charges and tear gas, the Congress party and other Opposition groups are now calling for the resignation of the current Union Home Minister, Amit Shah. This reversal of roles raises a fundamental question: should the Home Minister be held accountable for police actions under his command?

The parallels between the two incidents are striking. In 2011, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain firmly stated, "We want Chidambaram’s resignation and there will be no compromise on the issue." Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj emphasized that law and order falls under the purview of the Home Ministry, thereby making the Home Minister responsible for the police's actions. Similarly, Gopinath Munde, another prominent BJP figure, argued that the moral responsibility for the police crackdown lay squarely with Chidambaram. The uproar in Parliament during that time was palpable, with BJP MPs vocally demanding the Home Minister's resignation, disrupting proceedings, and insisting that the matter of police violence against protesters be addressed first. Today, the situation mirrors that past drama, albeit with the roles reversed. The BJP now holds the Treasury benches while the Congress occupies the Opposition, raising concerns over the police's response to the recent student protests and calling for Amit Shah to be held accountable, echoing the very demands they once made.