Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday, 26 July wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability for the police action against students who had gathered in New Delhi on 20 July to protest the NEET paper leak and related examination irregularities. The letter triggered a sharp political exchange between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress (INC), with both sides trading accusations ahead of the ongoing Parliament session.

What Rahul Gandhi Demanded

Gandhi's letter to Shah sought a clear explanation for the alleged use of force — including, according to Congress, pellet guns — against student demonstrators in the national capital. The Congress maintained that the police action was disproportionate and that those responsible must be held accountable. The party confirmed it would raise the matter in Parliament.

Congress Rajya Sabha member Praveen Chakravarty questioned the use of force directly. 'Is it right to fire pellet guns at students? Who gave the authority to do so, and on what basis? What harm did the students cause? Why were they fired upon? Why were weapons used against them? And why has no other political leader spoken out against this? Rahul Gandhi has raised the right questions. We will certainly raise this issue in Parliament,' Chakravarty said.

BJP's Response: Politics Over Students

BJP leader Mrityunjay Tiwari accused the Congress of exploiting student grievances for political purposes rather than genuinely advocating for them. 'They did not do anything for the youth till recently. Now, they raised their voice just to incite agitation. They do not really care about the students. However, the Modi government has ensured that no one can commit any wrongdoing when it comes to the students, who are the future of this nation,' Tiwari said.

BJP leader P. V. N. Madhav went further, alleging that Gandhi's intervention reflected political frustration rather than concern for students. 'Rahul Gandhi has completely turned mad. PM Narendra Modi has shown a magnanimous move by asking our Education Minister to resign. It's a great move because everybody thought otherwise, but PM Narendra Modi never thinks the unthinkable. So, he has done what was needed and has shown solidarity with the entire student community that he stands with them,' Madhav said. He added that the Opposition's continued criticism despite government action revealed, in his words, their 'true face.'

Background: NEET Protests and the Education Minister's Exit

The protests on 20 July in New Delhi were part of a broader wave of student demonstrations triggered by the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, which has drawn nationwide attention to alleged irregularities in competitive examinations. The controversy had already prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to request the resignation of the Union Education Minister — a move the BJP cited as evidence of the government's responsiveness to student concerns.

Notably, the NEET controversy has become one of the most politically charged education issues of the current Parliament session, with Opposition parties pressing for a wider investigation and the Centre defending the integrity of examination bodies.

What Happens Next

The Congress has signalled it will pursue the matter on the floor of Parliament, keeping the issue alive through the ongoing session. The BJP, for its part, is likely to counter by pointing to the Education Minister's resignation as a sufficient demonstration of accountability. With both parties entrenched, the confrontation over student welfare and police conduct is set to spill into the coming days of the legislative calendar.