Rahul Gandhi attacks Amit Shah over student protest crackdown; BJP demands apology

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of being responsible for the police crackdown on students protesting the NEET paper leak controversy. The remarks triggered repeated disruptions in the Lok Sabha, with the BJP dismissing the allegations as "baseless" and demanding that Gandhi apologise to the House and the country.

Speaking during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Gandhi said the nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak had restored his faith in India's youth.

"I was very excited, reassured by what the future of this country did on our streets. This was not anger, not violence, not hatred. This was an expression of the youth of this country, of the future generation of this country," he said.

Calling on all political parties to respect the students' concerns, Gandhi said even BJP leaders would find support for the protests among their own children.

"There is nothing wrong with what happened, and every Indian should be proud," he said.

The Congress leader alleged that the Home Minister had authorised police excesses during the July 20 march to Parliament by students protesting the NEET paper leak issue. The remarks sparked a sharp exchange in the House, with Speaker Om Birla asking Gandhi to provide evidence and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju demanding an apology. The House was adjourned twice amid the uproar.

Gandhi also launched a sharp attack on the RSS, alleging that it exercised control over the country's education system.

"Dharmendra Pradhan never ran the Education Ministry. The man and organisation that run the ministry is called the RSS," he alleged, claiming students were being forced to accept a version of history shaped by the organisation.

He further alleged that universities across the country had vice-chancellors aligned with the RSS and said students were being encouraged to become "andhbhakts" rather than independent thinkers.

During his speech, Gandhi narrated a conversation with an 18-year-old student, who, he said, described a student as someone with an open mind, humility and a willingness to learn. He contrasted this with another category of people who believed they knew everything and refused to listen to others. While quoting the student, Gandhi used the word "idiot", triggering fresh protests from the benches.

Rijiju objected to the use of what he called an "unparliamentary" expression, while Gandhi clarified that he was merely quoting the student and not referring to any member of the House. Speaker Birla said the expression would be expunged from the proceedings.

Referring again to the student movement, Gandhi said the protesters had overcome fear and challenged the ruling establishment.

"Their parents did not have the courage to face the BJP or the RSS. Yet these children stood there and faced everything that was thrown at them. They overcame their fear," he said.

He added that the students had questioned why young people were struggling to find jobs and why communities were being targeted.

After the debate, Gandhi took to X, alleging that the BJP had prevented him from completing his speech.

"Today, during my speech in Parliament, I raised the issue of the brutality inflicted on students in Delhi and named the one responsible – Home Minister Amit Shah. The BJP did not let me speak," he wrote.

"They can turn off the microphone, but not the 'chhatron ki goonj' (voice of the students)," Gandhi added, saying he would elaborate on the issues at a press conference.

Speaking to reporters later, Gandhi questioned Shah's absence from the Lok Sabha.

"There can be just two options. The Home Minister gave the order for firing, or he did not know there would be firing. In the first case, he is culpable. In the second case, he is incompetent," he said.

He also asked why Shah was not present in the House if he had "done nothing wrong", insisting that it was his right as Leader of the Opposition to raise the issue in Parliament.

The BJP strongly rejected Gandhi's allegations. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal accused the Congress leader of making "baseless" and "false" claims, insisting there had been no firing on student protesters.

"There was no firing at all. How can Rahul Gandhi make such false allegations? He should apologise in the House and apologise to the country," Goyal said.

He also accused Gandhi of speaking for nearly an hour without discussing the anti-paper leak Bill and described his speech as "a bundle of lies" that reflected the Congress leader's "frustration". Goyal rejected Gandhi's allegation that the RSS controlled the Education Ministry, saying the ministry functioned according to established rules and procedures.

The Lok Sabha later passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, which provides for stricter punishment, including up to 10 years' imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹50 lakh for those involved in examination paper leaks.