New Delhi: LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi intensified criticizing Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday over the alleged police excesses against students during the July 20^th protest march to Parliament.

Speaking at a media conference, he urged PM Narendra Modi to remove Amit Shah from office and order a Supreme Court-monitored independent investigation into the incident.

Rahul Gandhi said he had written to Amit Shah on July 25^th seeking clarification on whether the use of pellet guns had been authorized but had received no response.

He also accused the Union Government of suppressing dissent. He said he was prevented from speaking in the Lok Sabha and was asked to apologise for his remarks against Shah. He asserted that I will never apologise to the BJP-RSS, maintaining that it was his duty to raise issues concerning students.

Delhi Police and the RAF, both functioning under the Union Home Ministry, used excessive force against protesters, including pellet guns and lathis, he alleged. He claimed the Amit Shah was directly responsible for the crackdown. He said that either the Home Minister ordered the action or was unaware of it. If he ordered it, he is culpable. If he did not know, then he is incompetent. In either case, he has to go, he added. He alleged police brutality during demonstrations at Jantar Mantar on July 20. The students, who were peacefully asking questions to the Government, were brutalized and shot with pellet guns, he said.