AISA’s Neha Bora Vows Nationwide Protest for Amit Shah’s Resignation Over July 20 Police Action

The political row over the July 20 police action against anti-paper leak protesters in Delhi intensified on Saturday, with AISA president Neha Bora announcing that the campaign demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the removal of Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar would continue.

Bora, who undertook a 23-day hunger strike during the agitation, said the movement had expanded beyond the original demand for action on alleged examination irregularities and had now become a broader campaign seeking accountability from the Centre over the alleged use of force against protesters.

She said the responsibility for the alleged crackdown could not be limited to lower-level officials. According to Bora, accountability must extend to senior leadership, including the Union home minister and the Delhi Police commissioner.

“ The buck stops at Amit Shah. The buck stops at the commissioner of police, ” Bora said, arguing that suspension of junior officials would not satisfy the protesters’ demands.

The AISA chief questioned the alleged deployment of pellet guns, tear gas and lathis during the march towards Parliament on July 20. She sought answers from the government over claims that security personnel used excessive force, including allegations that protesters were injured by weapons used during the confrontation.

Bora argued that political responsibility remained with the home minister regardless of whether the action was carried out on administrative orders or directions from senior authorities.

The protest leader said the nature of the agitation changed after the alleged police action, transforming it from a movement focused mainly on paper leak allegations and examination reforms into a larger campaign against what she described as state repression.

She claimed that several students and young people who had earlier supported the government were now expressing disappointment over the handling of the protests. Bora said the issue had become a question of whether citizens could demand accountability without facing what she called excessive state action.

The AISA leader also linked the demand for Shah’s resignation with the release of arrested protesters, stating that both issues were part of the same struggle.

Opposition parties, including the Congress, along with student groups such as the NSUI and Youth Congress, have extended support to the protesters’ demands. Bora said political organisations have a responsibility to raise public concerns both inside and outside Parliament.

While she avoided making predictions about the electoral impact of the movement, Bora said the events of July 20 would remain significant for students and young voters.

The Delhi Police has denied allegations of excessive force, maintaining that personnel acted according to law while managing the situation. The Centre has also defended the actions of security forces.

The agitation, initially led by youth groups demanding action over alleged competitive exam irregularities, was called off on July 25 after several demands were addressed, including the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and proposed reforms to prevent examination malpractice.