Rahul Gandhi's Demands: Sack Shah, Probe Student Protest Crackdown

Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, launched a scathing attack on the Modi government, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on July 29, 2026. Speaking both in the Lok Sabha during a debate on The Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill-2026 and at a subsequent press conference, Gandhi made several serious accusations regarding the recent student protests in Delhi. Gandhi's primary 'advice' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi comprised two points: the immediate sacking of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the initiation of an independent probe into the alleged police brutality against student protesters on July 20. He held Shah directly responsible for the police action, including the use of pellet guns, lathis with nails, and electric batons, against students demonstrating at Jantar Mantar. Gandhi presented two possibilities for Shah's involvement: either Shah ordered the violence, making him culpable, or he was unaware of it, rendering him incompetent. In either scenario, Gandhi asserted, Shah should be removed from his position. Furthermore, Gandhi offered an 'Opposition guarantee' to the student protesters, assuring them that the Opposition would ensure justice for every student who suffered injuries and that those responsible for using pellet guns and other excessive force would be brought to justice. He stated that the Congress had collected photographic and video evidence and identified the police officers involved. He displayed photographs of injured students, highlighting cases like one student who was allegedly shot with a pellet gun and was likely to lose an eye, citing an AIIMS medical certificate. He also noted the presence of plainclothes officers at the protest site, questioning their role. A significant part of Gandhi's attack was directed at the RSS. He alleged that the RSS, not the Union Education Minister (Dharmendra Pradhan, who had recently resigned amidst the protests), controls the country's education system. Gandhi claimed that all universities in India have Vice Chancellors affiliated with the RSS and that the organization is forcing students to accept its version of history. During his address in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi claimed he was repeatedly disallowed from speaking because he had questioned Amit Shah's role in the police crackdown. He asserted that he was asked to apologize for his remarks, a demand he vehemently refused, stating he would 'never ever apologize to the BJP, RSS, or anyone else.' The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly rebutted Gandhi's allegations. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and other BJP members demanded an apology from Gandhi, accusing him of making "wild allegations" and "baseless" charges against a Union Minister without providing concrete proof. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, intervened during Gandhi's speech, disallowing certain charges he made against Amit Shah, deeming them unsubstantiated, and ordered parts of his address to be expunged from the parliamentary records. The Speaker also reminded Gandhi that allegations against a minister require documentary evidence. The protests on July 20 at Jantar Mantar, which sparked this political confrontation, were primarily organized by students demanding accountability and reform in the education system, particularly in light of alleged irregularities like the NEET paper leak controversy. The Supreme Court is reportedly monitoring the situation and has debated whether the Delhi Police kept the Home Ministry informed about the use of force during these protests. This incident underscores the heightened political tensions and the ongoing debate surrounding government accountability, student rights, and the influence of ideological organizations in India's governance and education sectors. This news story is corroborated by multiple credible Indian news outlets including NDTV, The Hindu, The Times of India, and United News of India, all reporting on Rahul Gandhi's statements and the ensuing parliamentary debate on July 29, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Read Full Story on Quick Digest