Rahul Gandhi slams Modi over NEET paper leak crisis and education system
Synopsis
Rahul Gandhi turned PM Modi's own pledge on youth welfare into an attack weapon — accusing the Centre not just of negligence but of actively enabling the destruction of India's education system. With student protests intensifying, a lathi-charge controversy, and demands for a minister's head, the NEET paper leak row has escalated into a full-blown political confrontation.
Key Takeaways
Rahul Gandhi on 23 July accused PM Modi of allowing the ‘total capture and destruction’ of India's education system.
PM Modi had posted on X pledging fast-track courts for swift punishment in paper leak cases.
Gandhi demanded the sacking of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and a formal apology to students.
Protesters allegedly faced a lathi charge during a march to Parliament on 20 July .
Gandhi , senior Congress leaders, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav were briefly detained after a sit-in near PM Modi's residence.
The Centre has not yet responded to demands for Pradhan's removal; student protests are set to continue.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday, 23 July launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the Centre of deliberately enabling the collapse of India's education system amid the ongoing controversy over exam paper leaks. Gandhi's remarks came in direct response to a post by Modi on X in which the Prime Minister pledged fast-track courts to punish those responsible for paper leaks.
What Modi Said
In his post on X, PM Modi stated: “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard.” The Prime Minister added that “those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.”
Gandhi's Rebuttal
Firing back, Gandhi said: “You are the one who has harmed the future of our youth the most. You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system — and protected every person responsible for it.” The Congress leader also reiterated the core demands of the student agitation: the sacking of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a formal apology to students, and accountability for those who allegedly assaulted protesters.
The NEET Paper Leak Protest Background
Gandhi's reference to alleged police brutality pointed to a 20 July march to Parliament led by what he called the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), during which protesters reportedly faced a lathi charge by police. Gandhi, alongside senior Indian National Congress (INC) leaders and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, had staged a sit-in near PM Modi's residence on Tuesday to protest the crackdown, before being briefly detained by police.
Education System 'Rigged', Says Gandhi
At a press conference held a day before Thursday's exchange, Gandhi claimed India's education system had been “rigged” under the current dispensation. He argued that students protesting in New Delhi were fighting for a legitimate cause, but the government was using force to suppress them. He further described Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as “corrupt and incompetent” and demanded his immediate resignation.
What Happens Next
The Centre has yet to respond to the demand for Pradhan's removal. The fast-track court proposal remains at the directive stage, with no formal legislative or judicial timeline announced. Student groups have indicated protests will continue until their demands are met, keeping pressure on both the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the ongoing parliamentary session.
Point of View
Class, and region — millions of aspirants and their families are directly affected. Modi's fast-track court pledge is politically defensive, not structurally reformative; it addresses punishment after the fact rather than systemic integrity before the exam. The demand for Pradhan's head is tactically smart for Congress: it personalises accountability and forces the BJP to either defend a minister under fire or sacrifice him. What mainstream coverage underplays is the institutional dimension — repeated exam integrity failures point to a procurement and oversight breakdown inside the National Testing Agency that no court, fast-track or otherwise, can fix on its own.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Rahul Gandhi say about PM Modi's remarks on youth welfare?
Gandhi accused PM Modi of being the one who has 'harmed the future of our youth the most,' saying the Centre allowed and encouraged the 'total capture and destruction' of India's education system. He made these remarks on 23 July in direct response to Modi's X post pledging fast-track courts for paper leak cases.
What is PM Modi's proposal to address the NEET paper leak crisis?
PM Modi announced on X that the government will set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. He directed concerned authorities to take all necessary steps and warned that those who harm youth futures 'will not be spared.'
What are the student protesters demanding?
Student protesters are demanding the sacking of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, a formal government apology, and action against those who allegedly assaulted demonstrators during the 20 July march to Parliament.
What happened during the 20 July protest march?
A march to Parliament on 20 July, reportedly led by a student-backed group, was met with a police lathi charge, according to protesters and Opposition leaders. Rahul Gandhi cited this alleged police brutality as justification for the sit-in he staged near PM Modi's residence on Tuesday.
Who was detained during the sit-in near PM Modi's residence?
Rahul Gandhi, along with senior Congress leaders and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, was briefly detained by police after staging a sit-in near PM Modi's residence to protest the crackdown on anti-NEET leak demonstrators.
