Apologise and resign: Kharge to Amit Shah over Delhi student protest crackdown
Calling paper leaks a betrayal of students and their families, Kharge said the Opposition had demanded a stringent law when the original legislation was passed in 2024 and recalled that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had raised the issue during the Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding him responsible for the alleged police crackdown on students during the July 20 protests in Delhi. Sepaking in the House, Kharge said Shah should "take accountability, apologise and resign" over the incident. He alleged that the government had failed to place the truth about the July 20 developments before Parliament.
Stepping up his attack, Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah of maintaining silence over the student protests, warning that if they continued to ignore the voices of young people, "students would teach them a lesson once again". He alleged that Shah was directly responsible for the "atrocities" committed against students and could not "hide behind closed doors" while evading accountability.
Questioning the Centre's handling of the protests, Kharge alleged that students seeking dialogue were branded anti-nationals, lathi-charged, tear-gassed and injured by pellet guns, with several reportedly requiring intensive care. "I felt ashamed. I don't know if he felt ashamed. Who is responsible for the atrocities against students?" Kharge said, reiterating that Shah was directly responsible for the July 20 police action in Delhi.
He demanded that the government explain who ordered the lathi-charge and tear-gas action against students and identify the people in plain clothes who were allegedly seen assaulting protesters. "If the Home Minister cannot answer these questions, he should apologise, take responsibility and resign," Kharge asserted.
ANTI-PAPER LEAK BILL UNDER FIRE
Turning to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Kharge alleged that the government had brought the legislation merely to pacify agitating students rather than address the root causes behind repeated paper leaks.
He argued that the Centre had failed to explain how it intended to conduct examinations in a manner that would prevent future leaks, adding that higher fines, stricter punishments and fast-track courts alone would not solve the problem.
According to Kharge, the examination system itself requires reform and accountability must be fixed. Otherwise, paper leaks would continue and Parliament would be forced to debate the same issue repeatedly. "Paper leaks hurt innocent students and their parents," he said.
Recalling that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had raised the issue during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Kharge said the Opposition had also demanded a stringent anti-paper leak law when the original legislation was enacted in 2024. However, he alleged that the government rushed the law for political reasons and was now compelled to amend it within two years. "It is still incomplete," he said.
DEMANDS ON STUDENT WELFARE
Kharge congratulated students and youth for what he described as forcing the government to remove Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister. He claimed that sustained protests by students, coupled with the Opposition's campaign in Parliament, compelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act.
The Congress president also sought a time-bound annual academic calendar to ensure that students' education and careers are not thrown into uncertainty due to delays in examinations and recruitment.
He further alleged that paper leaks had repeatedly occurred during the Modi government's tenure and claimed that the main accused in the 2024 NEET paper leak case had been given a clean chit. He also referred to alleged police action against students in states such as West Bengal and Bihar.
The debate witnessed noisy scenes after Kharge alleged that people associated with the RSS were heading educational institutions and demanded their removal. His remarks triggered protests from the treasury benches, with members objecting to his comments. The House witnessed repeated interruptions and sharp exchanges between the Opposition and the government as the discussion on the Bill continued.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding him responsible for the alleged police crackdown on students during the July 20 protests in Delhi. Sepaking in the House, Kharge said Shah should "take accountability, apologise and resign" over the incident. He alleged that the government had failed to place the truth about the July 20 developments before Parliament.
Stepping up his attack, Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah of maintaining silence over the student protests, warning that if they continued to ignore the voices of young people, "students would teach them a lesson once again". He alleged that Shah was directly responsible for the "atrocities" committed against students and could not "hide behind closed doors" while evading accountability.
Questioning the Centre's handling of the protests, Kharge alleged that students seeking dialogue were branded anti-nationals, lathi-charged, tear-gassed and injured by pellet guns, with several reportedly requiring intensive care. "I felt ashamed. I don't know if he felt ashamed. Who is responsible for the atrocities against students?" Kharge said, reiterating that Shah was directly responsible for the July 20 police action in Delhi.
He demanded that the government explain who ordered the lathi-charge and tear-gas action against students and identify the people in plain clothes who were allegedly seen assaulting protesters. "If the Home Minister cannot answer these questions, he should apologise, take responsibility and resign," Kharge asserted.
ANTI-PAPER LEAK BILL UNDER FIRE
Turning to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Kharge alleged that the government had brought the legislation merely to pacify agitating students rather than address the root causes behind repeated paper leaks.
He argued that the Centre had failed to explain how it intended to conduct examinations in a manner that would prevent future leaks, adding that higher fines, stricter punishments and fast-track courts alone would not solve the problem.
According to Kharge, the examination system itself requires reform and accountability must be fixed. Otherwise, paper leaks would continue and Parliament would be forced to debate the same issue repeatedly. "Paper leaks hurt innocent students and their parents," he said.
Recalling that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had raised the issue during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Kharge said the Opposition had also demanded a stringent anti-paper leak law when the original legislation was enacted in 2024. However, he alleged that the government rushed the law for political reasons and was now compelled to amend it within two years. "It is still incomplete," he said.
DEMANDS ON STUDENT WELFARE
Kharge congratulated students and youth for what he described as forcing the government to remove Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister. He claimed that sustained protests by students, coupled with the Opposition's campaign in Parliament, compelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act.
The Congress president also sought a time-bound annual academic calendar to ensure that students' education and careers are not thrown into uncertainty due to delays in examinations and recruitment.
He further alleged that paper leaks had repeatedly occurred during the Modi government's tenure and claimed that the main accused in the 2024 NEET paper leak case had been given a clean chit. He also referred to alleged police action against students in states such as West Bengal and Bihar.
The debate witnessed noisy scenes after Kharge alleged that people associated with the RSS were heading educational institutions and demanded their removal. His remarks triggered protests from the treasury benches, with members objecting to his comments. The House witnessed repeated interruptions and sharp exchanges between the Opposition and the government as the discussion on the Bill continued.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday demanded the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, holding him responsible for the alleged police crackdown on students during the July 20 protests in Delhi. Sepaking in the House, Kharge said Shah should "take accountability, apologise and resign" over the incident. He alleged that the government had failed to place the truth about the July 20 developments before Parliament.
Stepping up his attack, Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah of maintaining silence over the student protests, warning that if they continued to ignore the voices of young people, "students would teach them a lesson once again". He alleged that Shah was directly responsible for the "atrocities" committed against students and could not "hide behind closed doors" while evading accountability.
Questioning the Centre's handling of the protests, Kharge alleged that students seeking dialogue were branded anti-nationals, lathi-charged, tear-gassed and injured by pellet guns, with several reportedly requiring intensive care. "I felt ashamed. I don't know if he felt ashamed. Who is responsible for the atrocities against students?" Kharge said, reiterating that Shah was directly responsible for the July 20 police action in Delhi.
He demanded that the government explain who ordered the lathi-charge and tear-gas action against students and identify the people in plain clothes who were allegedly seen assaulting protesters. "If the Home Minister cannot answer these questions, he should apologise, take responsibility and resign," Kharge asserted.
ANTI-PAPER LEAK BILL UNDER FIRE
Turning to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Kharge alleged that the government had brought the legislation merely to pacify agitating students rather than address the root causes behind repeated paper leaks.
He argued that the Centre had failed to explain how it intended to conduct examinations in a manner that would prevent future leaks, adding that higher fines, stricter punishments and fast-track courts alone would not solve the problem.
According to Kharge, the examination system itself requires reform and accountability must be fixed. Otherwise, paper leaks would continue and Parliament would be forced to debate the same issue repeatedly. "Paper leaks hurt innocent students and their parents," he said.
Recalling that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had raised the issue during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, Kharge said the Opposition had also demanded a stringent anti-paper leak law when the original legislation was enacted in 2024. However, he alleged that the government rushed the law for political reasons and was now compelled to amend it within two years. "It is still incomplete," he said.
DEMANDS ON STUDENT WELFARE
Kharge congratulated students and youth for what he described as forcing the government to remove Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister. He claimed that sustained protests by students, coupled with the Opposition's campaign in Parliament, compelled Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act.
The Congress president also sought a time-bound annual academic calendar to ensure that students' education and careers are not thrown into uncertainty due to delays in examinations and recruitment.
He further alleged that paper leaks had repeatedly occurred during the Modi government's tenure and claimed that the main accused in the 2024 NEET paper leak case had been given a clean chit. He also referred to alleged police action against students in states such as West Bengal and Bihar.
The debate witnessed noisy scenes after Kharge alleged that people associated with the RSS were heading educational institutions and demanded their removal. His remarks triggered protests from the treasury benches, with members objecting to his comments. The House witnessed repeated interruptions and sharp exchanges between the Opposition and the government as the discussion on the Bill continued.
