Chandigarh: Punjab Congress MLA Pargat Singh has questioned what he described as “selective outrage” over the use of pellet guns against protesters, asking why similar concerns were not raised when protesting farmers were allegedly subjected to pellet gun firing two years ago.
His remarks came after the Punjab Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the reported use of pellet guns against students during protests in Delhi. The recent controversy has sparked nationwide debate, with the Supreme Court seeking greater accountability and examining the circumstances surrounding the use of pellet guns during the Delhi protests.
Reacting to the Assembly’s unanimous condemnation, Pargat Singh said that if the use of pellet guns against students deserves unanimous condemnation, then justice should also be sought for farmers who were allegedly injured during protests near the Punjab-Haryana border. He recalled that one young farmer lost his life while several others suffered serious injuries during the agitation, raising questions over why there has been no comparable demand for accountability.
The Congress leader asked why no FIR has been registered against those responsible for the alleged use of force against farmers in Haryana. He argued that justice should not depend on the identity of the victims or the political circumstances, adding that democratic governments must apply the same standards whenever excessive force is alleged against peaceful protesters.
Pargat Singh maintained that the Punjab Assembly’s stand against the reported use of pellet guns in Delhi should be accompanied by equal concern for farmers who suffered during earlier protests. He said that the principles of justice, accountability and protection of democratic rights must remain consistent, irrespective of whether the victims are students or farmers.
The issue has once again brought attention to the wider debate over the use of pellet guns for crowd control, with legal scrutiny continuing and renewed calls for clear protocols and accountability whenever such force is deployed.