Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday, 28 July challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to change the ‘angle of heart’ rather than the ‘angle of a phone camera’ for social media videos, arguing that optics alone cannot win over Gen Z. Her remarks came during the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Key Charges in the Lok Sabha Debate

Addressing the House, the Wayanad MP said, “You can remove protestors from the road but cannot ignore the questions being raised by them.” She demanded drastic changes in the National Education Policy, deeper engagement of subject experts, large-scale job creation, and the construction of more medical colleges, arguing that constituting committees alone would not yield results.

Priyanka Gandhi pointed to the government’s earlier 2024 law on examination malpractice, noting it had not resulted in the conviction of even a single accused. “Face recognition technology is being used against students, but this technology is still to be used against those involved in paper leaks,” she said, drawing a sharp contrast between state surveillance of protesters and the absence of accountability for exam irregularities.

Pellet Guns, AK-47s and the Accountability Question

The Congress leader demanded answers on who authorised the use of pellet guns and AK-47s against student protesters during the agitation over exam irregularities. “Are students terrorists? What was the need to use pellet guns and AK-47 against them? The Congress and the entire nation want to know who gave the order to use these guns against students,” she said. She also narrated the account of a mother whose daughter was injured in police action, describing the woman’s resolve to fight alone without seeking outside help.

Paper Leak Crisis: Numbers and Allegations

Priyanka Gandhi alleged that over 750 crore students have been affected by 152 paper leaks in the last decade, with no exam mafia member punished. Her remarks referenced the alleged NEET paper leak controversy. She also questioned the eligibility of members on the government-constituted committee under Nandan Nilekani, and expressed concern over the ‘rousing welcome’ given to former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Parliament premises within days of his resignation.

Treasury Benches Hit Back

Priyanka Gandhi’s remarks on new Education Minister Pralhad Joshi triggered a sharp response from the treasury benches. Joshi and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey demanded that she authenticate what they called ‘misinformation.’ Joshi formally demanded expulsion of her remarks. As she offered to authenticate her statements, Speaker Om Birla intervened, asking her to confine her remarks to the Bill under discussion.

What Comes Next

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 remains under parliamentary debate, with the opposition pressing the government on enforcement gaps in the earlier 2024 law. The political battle over student protests, exam integrity, and accountability is likely to intensify as the session continues.