Karnataka BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over NEET protests, 'Tukde-Tukde' jibe
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP escalated its attack on Rahul Gandhi over the NEET row, accusing him of skipping a parliamentary debate to lead street protests — and branding him the 'Tukde-Tukde gang' leader. The BJP's counter-offensive frames the opposition's student protests as political theatre, even as the NEET controversy continues to roil India's medical entrance system.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka BJP leaders on 23 July accused Rahul Gandhi of avoiding a parliamentary debate on the NEET controversy .
Ashoka alleged Congress had 'politicised' the issue and compared Jantar Mantar protests to unrest in Bangladesh and Nepal .
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy called Gandhi the leader of the 'Tukde-Tukde gang' and questioned his repeated overseas travel.
BJP cited exam paper leaks during the UPA era and the KPSC leak to challenge Congress's moral authority on accountability.
The NEET row has triggered protests nationwide over alleged question-paper leaks in the medical entrance examination.
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Thursday, 23 July launched a sharp attack on Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of sidestepping a parliamentary debate on the NEET controversy and instead leading street protests. The remarks came from senior BJP leaders in Bengaluru, escalating the political war of words over the examination row that has gripped the country.
Ashoka Questions Gandhi's Parliamentary Absence
Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka questioned why Gandhi had chosen to protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi rather than engage in a structured debate inside Parliament. 'Elected representatives should take part in parliamentary sessions and present their views. The Union government has made it clear that it is prepared for a discussion on the NEET issue. Why did LoP Rahul Gandhi avoid participating in the debate in Parliament?' Ashoka said at a press briefing.
Ashoka alleged that Gandhi and the Congress had 'politicised' the NEET issue and drew a comparison — contested by the opposition — between the Jantar Mantar demonstrations and recent unrest in Bangladesh and Nepal. He further alleged that the Congress had engaged in 'political match-fixing' and that slogans raised during the protests echoed those heard during those foreign disturbances.
BJP Cites Congress's Own Record on Exam Leaks
Ashoka pointed to what he described as a pattern of examination paper leaks under previous governments, arguing that Congress ministers did not resign when such incidents occurred during the UPA era. He also cited the Karnataka Public Service Commission (KPSC) paper leak as an instance where no accountability was demanded by the current state dispensation. 'A party that plays politics with the future of students has no moral standing,' he said.
Referring to reported student suicides linked to the NEET row, Ashoka said no student should have lost their life over the controversy. He also questioned the Congress government's moral authority on accountability, citing its handling of the Chinnaswamy Stadium stampede.
Narayanaswamy's 'Tukde-Tukde' Charge
Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council Chalavadi Narayanaswamy went further, alleging that Rahul Gandhi had effectively become the leader of the so-called 'Tukde-Tukde gang' — a phrase frequently deployed by BJP leaders to target critics they accuse of undermining national unity. Narayanaswamy also made a pointed remark about Gandhi's overseas travel, alleging that controversy tends to follow each trip abroad. 'I do not know whether he seeks support for his party from countries such as China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh,' he said.
Narayanaswamy also turned the tables on Congress leaders who have questioned the registration status of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), asking rhetorically whether the Congress party itself was properly registered.
Context: The NEET Row and Its Political Fallout
The NEET-UG controversy erupted after widespread allegations of question-paper leaks and irregularities in the conduct of the medical entrance examination, triggering protests across India and demands for a re-test. The opposition, led by Congress, has been pressing the Centre for answers both on the streets and inside Parliament. The BJP's counter-offensive — framing the protests as politically motivated — reflects the high stakes of a controversy that has drawn in students, parents, and political parties nationwide. With Parliament in session, the battle over who controls the NEET narrative is intensifying on both floors and on the ground.
Point of View
But its deployment in the context of a student-driven NEET crisis carries real risk — it shifts attention from a systemic examination failure to a culture-war skirmish. The Congress, by taking the protests to the streets rather than anchoring the debate inside Parliament, has handed the BJP a tactical opening. What gets lost in this crossfire is accountability for the actual NEET irregularities: who leaked the papers, how many students were affected, and what remedial action the Centre will take. Neither side's posture this week has moved that needle.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Karnataka BJP attacking Rahul Gandhi over NEET protests?
Karnataka BJP leaders accused Rahul Gandhi of choosing to protest at Jantar Mantar rather than participate in a parliamentary debate on the NEET controversy, which the Centre had reportedly offered. They allege the Congress is politicising a student issue for electoral gain.
What is the 'Tukde-Tukde gang' charge against Rahul Gandhi?
Karnataka Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that Rahul Gandhi has become the leader of the so-called 'Tukde-Tukde gang' — a term BJP leaders use to describe those they accuse of undermining national unity. The remark was made in the context of the NEET protests on 23 July.
What did R. Ashoka say about Congress and past exam leaks?
R. Ashoka alleged that examination paper leaks occurred repeatedly during the UPA government and in Karnataka under the KPSC, without any ministerial resignations. He argued this undermines Congress's moral authority to demand accountability over the current NEET row.
What is the NEET controversy about?
The NEET-UG controversy centres on widespread allegations of question-paper leaks and irregularities in India's national medical entrance examination, prompting protests across the country and opposition demands for a re-test and Central accountability.
What did Narayanaswamy say about Rahul Gandhi's foreign trips?
Chalavadi Narayanaswamy alleged that controversy or disturbance tends to arise in India each time Rahul Gandhi travels abroad, and sarcastically questioned whether Gandhi seeks support from countries such as China, Pakistan, and Bangladesh during such visits.
