Rahul Gandhi Alleges Pellet Gun Use Against Student Protesters, Intensifies Demand for Education Minister’s Resignation

New Delhi, July 2026 : Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday sharpened his attack on the Centre over the ongoing student protests against the alleged NEET paper leak, accusing the government of misleading the public about the police response to demonstrators. He alleged that pellet guns were used against students participating in the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led agitation at Jantar Mantar and demanded accountability from the government.

Addressing the media outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi appeared alongside 19-year-old student Sahil, who he claimed was injured during the police action on the CJP’s “Chalo Sansad” march held on July 20. Gandhi said the student’s injuries were evidence that excessive force had been used against peaceful protesters.

Pointing to Sahil’s injuries, Gandhi alleged that the government’s repeated denial of pellet gun use was contradicted by what he described as “visual proof.” He claimed the student had sustained injuries to his face, upper body and right arm after being hit by pellets during the police crackdown.

According to Rahul Gandhi, Sahil was carrying the national flag and participating peacefully in the demonstration when he was injured. He further alleged that the pellets struck the student’s right eye, leaving uncertainty over whether his vision could be fully restored. Gandhi described the incident as an unacceptable use of force against young citizens exercising their democratic right to protest.

The Congress leader maintained that despite the police action, the student movement would continue its campaign for accountability over the alleged examination irregularities. He accused the government of attempting to suppress dissent instead of addressing the concerns raised by students across the country.

The allegations surrounding the reported use of pellet guns have added a fresh dimension to the controversy over the handling of the protests. Reports have suggested that the Rapid Action Force (RAF), deployed during the demonstrations, has initiated an internal verification exercise following claims that pellet guns may have been used to disperse protesters. The matter has since drawn political attention, with Opposition parties demanding a transparent investigation into the police response.

Reiterating the Opposition’s stand, Rahul Gandhi said the demands of the protesting students remained unchanged. These include the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, action against officials responsible for the alleged police excesses, and an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to students affected by the controversy.

He accused the Centre of ignoring the concerns of students while responding with force to peaceful demonstrations. According to Gandhi, the youth were protesting for a fair and transparent examination system and deserved dialogue rather than confrontation.

Launching a fresh attack on the Education Minister, Gandhi alleged that responsibility for the crisis rested with the leadership of the education system. He repeated the Opposition’s demand that Dharmendra Pradhan step down, asserting that accountability at the highest level was essential to restore confidence among students.

The political confrontation over the NEET controversy continues to intensify, with Parliament witnessing repeated disruptions and student protests spreading to several states. As the debate over examination reforms and police action grows sharper, the issue is expected to remain at the centre of the national political discourse in the days ahead.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)