A heated exchange erupted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of ordering the use of force against students during the nationwide protests over the NEET paper leak.
The allegation sparked sharp protests from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with treasury bench members demanding evidence to support the claim.
Participating in the debate on the proposed anti-paper leak legislation during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi alleged that students protesting against examination irregularities were subjected to excessive force during the demonstrations, particularly the July 20 march to Parliament organised amid the broader agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
Addressing the House, Rahul Gandhi claimed that the Home Minister had ordered security forces to open fire using pellet rounds against students. He further questioned Amit Shah’s absence from the debate, alleging that the minister was avoiding accountability over the government’s handling of the protests.
His remarks immediately triggered loud protests from BJP members, who strongly objected to the allegations and demanded documentary proof. Members of the ruling party challenged Gandhi to substantiate his claims, leading to a noisy exchange across the House.
The allegations come amid an intensifying political row over the police response to the student protests. Opposition parties have repeatedly accused authorities of using excessive force during the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march, while the government has maintained that law enforcement acted to control violence after protesters allegedly breached security barricades.
The controversy deepened after reports emerged citing an entry in the Parliament Street Police Station’s daily diary indicating that pellet rounds were among the crowd-control measures used during the protest. The issue has also reached the Supreme Court, which recently observed that allegations of excessive force against protesters and attacks on police personnel both require an independent and impartial investigation.
The debate in Parliament took place as lawmakers continued discussions on the proposed anti-paper leak legislation, introduced after widespread concerns over examination irregularities and the NEET paper leak controversy. The issue has triggered sustained political confrontation, student demonstrations and calls for greater accountability in the conduct of public examinations.
With both the government and the Opposition continuing to trade allegations over the handling of the protests, the debate is expected to remain a key political flashpoint during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.
