A stormy session unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of ordering security forces to use force against students during the recent CJP-led protests over the alleged paper leak controversy. The remarks sparked sharp protests from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with government ministers rejecting the allegations as baseless and demanding that Gandhi produce evidence to support his claims.
The confrontation erupted during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. While addressing the House, Rahul Gandhi alleged that peaceful students protesting against examination irregularities were subjected to excessive force and claimed that responsibility ultimately rested with the Union Home Minister. His comments immediately triggered loud protests from BJP members, leading to repeated interruptions in the proceedings.
Rahul Gandhi argued that students protesting against alleged irregularities in competitive examinations deserved dialogue rather than police action. Referring to the crackdown on demonstrators, he questioned whether the government considered students to be enemies instead of citizens exercising their democratic rights. He alleged that excessive force had been used during the protests and sought accountability from the Centre over the incident.
The BJP strongly rejected the accusations. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Congress leader of making serious allegations without presenting any proof. He urged Rahul Gandhi either to substantiate his claims with credible evidence or withdraw the remarks. BJP MPs also objected to the language used during the debate, saying the allegations were politically motivated and intended to mislead Parliament.
BJP rejects allegations as Parliament witnesses uproar
As protests intensified inside the House, Speaker Om Birla repeatedly appealed to members from both sides to maintain order and allow parliamentary business to continue. However, continuous sloganeering and interruptions made it difficult for proceedings to move smoothly, with several exchanges between treasury and opposition benches dominating the session.
The controversy is linked to the nationwide student agitation led by the CJP over alleged examination paper leaks and demands for reforms in the recruitment and examination system. Earlier this month, protests in Delhi witnessed clashes between demonstrators and security personnel, with allegations surfacing that force, including plastic pellets, had been used to disperse protesters. These claims have since become a major political issue both inside and outside Parliament.
Rahul Gandhi had previously written to Amit Shah seeking accountability for what he described as a “barbaric assault” on peaceful student protesters. In his letter, he demanded an explanation regarding the alleged use of force and called for responsibility to be fixed for the police action. The Congress has consistently maintained that students exercising their democratic rights should not face violent crackdowns.
The government, however, has maintained that law enforcement agencies acted according to the situation on the ground. While no official admission has been made regarding the alleged use of excessive force, inquiries into certain aspects of the police operation have been reported. Authorities have also maintained that maintaining law and order during large demonstrations remains their responsibility.
Row spills over to Rajya Sabha as political tensions rise
The issue has also spilled over into the Rajya Sabha, where opposition parties demanded a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the police action against students. Repeated protests over the matter disrupted proceedings in the Upper House as well, highlighting the growing political significance of the controversy during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
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Several opposition leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, have also criticised the government’s handling of the protests. They questioned whether students demanding fair examinations should be treated as security threats and accused the Centre of suppressing democratic dissent instead of addressing concerns over examination reforms.
Meanwhile, the anti-paper leak legislation remains one of the Centre’s key priorities during the ongoing Parliament session. While the government argues that the proposed law is aimed at strengthening the integrity of public examinations and preventing future leaks, the Opposition insists that accountability for recent examination controversies and the handling of student protests must be addressed alongside legislative reforms.
With political tempers running high, the confrontation over Rahul Gandhi’s allegations against Amit Shah has added another flashpoint to the Monsoon Session. The BJP continues to demand evidence supporting the claims, while the Congress has vowed to keep raising the issue of alleged police excesses against students until the government provides a detailed explanation in Parliament.
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