Rahul Gandhi claimed he was prevented from speaking in the Lok Sabha unless he apologised over remarks on Amit Shah. He demanded the home minister's resignation and an SC-monitored probe into the alleged police action against students.
New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged that he was not allowed to continue speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, despite Union ministers being permitted to intervene repeatedly.
Addressing a press conference after the House proceedings, Gandhi claimed he was told he would be allowed to continue only if he apologised for remarks made against Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
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"I was given an assurance that if I apologise, I will be allowed to speak. I will never apologise to the BJP-RSS."
He alleged that every time he attempts to raise important issues in Parliament, he is prevented from doing so.
"As you saw today, the Leader of Opposition is not allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha."
'It is my right as LoP to raise matters of public importance'
Gandhi argued that, as Leader of Opposition, it is his constitutional responsibility to raise issues affecting the country.
He said the alleged police action against students protesting over examination issues was the most important matter before Parliament.
"It's my right as LoP to raise matters of public importance. For me, the most important issue today is the brutalities against students."
He accused the government of diverting attention from the student issue during the debate on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill.
Renews attack on Amit Shah over student protest crackdown
Gandhi repeated his allegation that Home Minister Amit Shah bore responsibility for the police action during the July 20 student protest march to Parliament.
He argued that if Shah had authorised the use of force, he should be held accountable, and if he had not, questions remained about his oversight. "If he ordered it, he is culpable and if he did not know then he is incompetent."
Referring to a photograph of Shah displayed during the press conference, Gandhi addressed protesting students directly. "This is the man who beat you, thrashed you, humiliated you and shot you with pellet guns."
The Home Ministry has not publicly responded to these specific allegations.
Demands Amit Shah's resignation and Supreme Court-monitored probe
Calling the alleged police action unacceptable, Gandhi urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove the home minister from office. "Sack Amit Shah and order an SC-monitored probe. Have the decency to take moral responsibility for what was done with students."
He also promised that, if his party came to power, those responsible for using pellet guns against students would be held accountable. "We will ensure every person who used pellet guns on students is held accountable and all students get justice."
Says Anti-Paper Leak Bill is not enough
Gandhi also criticised the proposed Anti-Paper Leak Bill, arguing that stricter punishments alone would not solve systemic problems in India's examination system.
He questioned the effectiveness of introducing harsher legal provisions when existing laws had rarely resulted in convictions. "The Bill with stringent punishment on paper leaks is not worth discussing. No one has been convicted under the existing law."
Using a medical analogy, he said the legislation addressed only the symptoms. "The Anti-Paper Leak Bill is like a band-aid. We need surgery. Students want a complete revamp of the examination system."
Political confrontation intensifies
The remarks came after a stormy Lok Sabha session in which Gandhi's speech triggered protests from treasury bench MPs. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objected to Gandhi's allegations against Amit Shah and demanded that he apologise, arguing that such remarks were inappropriate and unsupported.
The confrontation has further intensified the political battle over the government's handling of student protests and the proposed Anti-Paper Leak Bill. While the Congress has accused the Centre of suppressing dissent and failing to address students' concerns, the BJP has maintained that the legislation is intended to strengthen examination integrity and has criticised Gandhi's language and allegations.
The debate is expected to continue as Parliament considers the Bill for passage.
Published: 29 Jul 2026, 07:18 pm IST
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