‘Sheer persistence and perseverance’: Congress hails Rahul Gandhi after FIR over student’s pellet injuries

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday hailed Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi after an FIR was registered over pellet injuries suffered by a student during the July 20 protest, saying it was only feasible due to his persistence and perseverance.

Key points

• Since a cognisable offence took place and yet, the Delhi Police under Amit Shah's instructions dragged its feet, he alleged, this should have been a straightforward case.
• The FIR was registered on the complaint of the injured youth, Sahil Lochab, a resident of Najafgarh.
• "This is the first step towards justice and a case has been registered, " Gandhi remarked, shortly after the Delhi Police registered the FIR.
• Gandhi sat on the dharna outside the police station after police refused to lodge an FIR on Lochab's complaint.
• 'Politics of anarchy': BJP slams Rahul Gandhi's dharna at Delhi police station.

For context, the Delhi Police registered an FIR over pellet injuries suffered by the 20-year-old student during the July 20 protest after Gandhi held an over six-hour dharna at the Parliament Street police station demanding action in the case.

For context, the FIR was registered on the complaint of the injured youth, Sahil Lochab, a resident of Najafgarh. This person alleged that he was hit by a number of metal pellets during the protest and lost vision in his right eye.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh remarked, "Today it was the sheer persistence and perseverance of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha @Rahul Gandhi — clearly evident in his six hour dharna at Parliament Street Police Station — that led to Sahil Lochab's FIR being registered."

"He is the young man from Haryana against whom pellet guns were used by Amit Shah's police/paramilitary forces, which led him to lose his sight in one eye and suffer severe bodily harm, " Ramesh remarked on X.

Delhi Police files FIR over youth's pellet injuries from July 20 protest after Rahul Gandhi's dharna Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal additionally hailed Gandhi over his 'dharna'.

"They have bent. They were forced to bend. After Rahul Gandhi ji himself protested for hours demanding an FIR for Sahil's pellet injuries — the Delhi police was compelled to register an FIR, " Venugopal remarked on X, finally.

When public pressure mounted — arrogance was defeated, "Eventually. It is a shame that basic Constitutional rights are denied by default, and granted only as a favour when massive pressure is applied, " Venugopal remarked.

After an FIR was registered on a complaint from a young man who has suffered pellet injuries and stated this is the first step towards justice, gandhi concluded his over-six-hour dharna at the Parliament Street police station here on Friday.

There are pellets in his body and he cannot even see as he has suffered injuries in his eye. This is injustice with this youngster. For almost a month, he has been calling for the registration of an FIR and moving from one police station to another.

"After hours of protest, an FIR has been registered. One can imagine what the individuals of the country suffer when they seek justice. There are a number of rape victims and victims of intimidation and they continue to fight while seeking justice, " the Congress leader stated.

Gandhi, who had earlier alleged that police are "under pressure from the top" for not registering a complaint, asserted that the FIR was lodged only after clearance from top authorities in the home ministry.

For now, 'Sheer persistence and perseverance': Congress hails Rahul Gandhi after FIR over student's remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.