Rahul Gandhi demands PM Modi apologise over police action on students, seeks Pradhan and Shah’s resignation

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students over the police crackdown during the July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ protest, while calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

The remarks came after Opposition leaders staged a sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s residence, alleging the government refused to allow a parliamentary debate on the police action against students protesting over alleged exam paper leaks and student suicides. The demonstrators were later detained by Delhi Police.

In a video recorded during his detention, Gandhi said he had requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to allow a discussion on the issue but claimed the government had shown “no interest” in debating it.

He said the Opposition protested outside the Prime Minister’s residence to draw national attention to the treatment of students and demanded that all cases filed against protesters be withdrawn and action be taken against those responsible for the alleged police excesses.

Questioning the state of India’s education system, Gandhi asked why exam papers continue to leak, why education has become so expensive, and why families are forced into financial hardship to educate their children. He urged the government to reform the examination system and education sector.

The protest was joined by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, Supriya Sule, Pawan Khera and several other Opposition leaders. They were detained after a sit-in near Lok Kalyan Marg and later released.

The confrontation followed the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20, during which police used tear gas and batons to disperse protesters attempting to reach Parliament. Officials said dozens of police personnel and protesters were injured, while several demonstrators required hospital treatment.

Responding to the protests, Dharmendra Pradhan accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of politicising students, saying the government was prepared to discuss the NEET issue in Parliament and remained committed to reforms and accountability in the examination system.

The CBI has so far arrested 13 people in connection with this year’s alleged NEET-UG paper leak.