Rahul Gandhi Demands Resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, Amit Shah Over NEET Paper Leak, Seeks Parliamentary Debate

New Delhi, July 2026 : Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday intensified the Opposition’s attack on the Centre over the alleged NEET paper leak, accusing the government of betraying the country’s students and demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He also called for an immediate debate on the issue in both Houses of Parliament, saying the concerns of millions of students could no longer be ignored.

Rahul Gandhi made the remarks after being detained by the Delhi Police during a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. He was later released. Addressing reporters after his release, Gandhi said the protest was aimed at drawing national attention to what he described as the government’s failure to protect students and ensure the integrity of competitive examinations.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi had met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and sought permission for a discussion in Parliament on the police action against students who had protested in the national capital over the NEET controversy. According to Gandhi, the Speaker informed him that government approval was required before such a debate could be taken up.

“The Speaker said he needed to take permission from the Government, but it became evident soon afterwards that there was no willingness on the part of the Government to hold a discussion,” Gandhi told reporters. He said the Opposition then decided to stage a peaceful dharna outside the Prime Minister’s residence to highlight what it described as the plight of students across the country.

Calling the issue one of the most significant challenges facing the nation, Gandhi questioned the current state of India’s education system and alleged that repeated examination paper leaks had severely undermined public confidence.

He raised a series of questions regarding the functioning of the education sector, asking why examination papers continued to leak, why higher education had become increasingly expensive, and why countless families were being forced into financial hardship to educate their children. He said these were genuine concerns that deserved answers from the government rather than attempts to suppress public protests.

Rahul Gandhi outlined the key demands being raised by protesting students and Opposition parties. These include the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah, action against those responsible for allegedly assaulting and humiliating student protesters, and the withdrawal of all criminal cases registered against them during the demonstrations.

He reiterated that the INDIA bloc wanted a full-fledged discussion on the matter in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, arguing that Parliament should serve as the appropriate forum for addressing issues affecting the country’s youth.

In a direct message to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi urged the government to acknowledge the concerns of students and undertake comprehensive reforms.

“As the Leader of the Opposition, my suggestion to Modi ji is that the Government should apologise to the students of the country for what happened and immediately begin meaningful reforms in both the examination and education systems,” he said.

Expressing gratitude to those who participated in the protests and supported the movement, Gandhi thanked students, youth organisations and supporters across the country for standing together in defence of educational fairness and transparency.

The NEET paper leak controversy has emerged as a major flashpoint between the government and the Opposition, with repeated protests, political confrontations and demands for accountability. As Parliament continues its Monsoon Session, the issue is expected to remain at the centre of political debate, with Opposition parties pressing for a detailed discussion and the government facing mounting pressure to address concerns over examination security and educational reforms.