‘Who ordered the action against students?’: MP Priyanka Gandhi seeks answers from Amit Shah

New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday questioned the government's handling of student protests in the Lok Sabha, demanding answers over the alleged use of force against students during demonstrations linked to examination irregularities.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi asked who authorised the use of measures such as tear gas, lathi-charge and pellet guns against protesting students. She questioned whether students were being treated as a threat and demanded accountability from the government.

"I want to ask the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah, were students terrorists? What was the need to use tear gas, lathi-charge, pellet guns and AK-47s against them?" she said during the discussion.

The Congress leader said the government must address the concerns of students and explain the action taken during the protests.

Her remarks came during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, with Opposition parties demanding that issues related to student protests and alleged police action also be discussed.

Priyanka Gandhi attacks welcome for Dharmendra Pradhan

Priyanka Gandhi also criticised BJP MPs for welcoming former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan at Parliament after his resignation.

Calling the reception "shameful", she said Pradhan was welcomed "as if he were a superstar" despite stepping down following widespread protests over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.

"Don't you think it is shameful? Everyone saw the circumstances under which Dharmendra Pradhan resigned, but yesterday in the Parliament premises, he was welcomed as if he were a superstar," she said.

She alleged that students were still facing difficulties and questioned whether the government wanted to resolve the matter through dialogue or continue taking action against protesters.

"No one can trust the Modi government, because even today, students are being harassed. Do you want to engage in talks to resolve this matter or are you still after the students, wanting to suppress them? This is wrong," she added.

Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister on July 25 following protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination.

In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pradhan said the decision was taken in the larger interest of students.

"For more than four decades, I have been associated with students, teachers, and the cause of education reform. I have always believed that a strong, inclusive, and forward-looking education system is the foundation of a strong nation," Pradhan said.

Referring to the NEET-UG controversy, he said the government acted after irregularities were reported.

"However, irregularities were found in the NEET-UG examination held on May 3, 2026. The Government of India immediately took cognisance of the matter, handed over the investigation to the CBI, cancelled the examination, and announced a date for the re-examination," he said.

He also said future examinations would be conducted through computer-based testing from the following year.

Opposition demands accountability

The Opposition has said it supports stronger measures against examination malpractice but wants answers on the alleged use of force against protesting students.

An INDIA bloc source said, "We are neither against the paper leak bill nor discussion on it; we fully support any move to strengthen exams, but we need an answer on pellet guns and excessive use of force against protesting students."

The debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, has become a larger political confrontation, with the government focusing on examination reforms while the Opposition continues to raise questions over student concerns, accountability and the handling of protests.

With PTI inputs