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Rahul refuses to continue speech amid uproar

Proceedings in the Lok Sabha were briefly disrupted on Wednesday after Treasury Bench members continued to protest Rahul Gandhi's remarks during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill.

Amid the uproar, Rahul said, "If you don't like that word, I'll use some other word, a proxy word. Let me speak. This young lady gave me a beautiful framework of 3 categories of people."

As the protests persisted, the Leader of the Opposition took his seat and declined to continue with his speech.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Speaker Om Birla urged Rahul to resume his address while avoiding unparliamentary expressions. Birla told the Congress leader that if he was unwilling to continue, the Chair would call the next speaker to participate in the debate.

Rijiju seeks expunction of Rahul Gandhi's remarks

A heated exchange erupted in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju objected to Rahul Gandhi's remarks during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill.

Rijiju described Rahul's language as unparliamentary and urged the Chair to expunge the remarks from the House records. He also alleged that the Leader of the Opposition was using the example of a student to express views he wanted to convey himself.

Rahul rejected the charge, saying he had not used the word "idiot" for Rijiju or for any other member.

The exchange drew loud protests from the Treasury Benches before the House returned to the debate on the proposed legislation.

Treasury benches seek expunction of Rahul's remarks

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's remarks during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill drew sharp protests from the Treasury Benches on Wednesday, with Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal demanding that his comments be expunged from the House records.

Amid the uproar, Rahul said he was recounting a conversation with an 18-year-old student that, in his view, reflected the concerns of young people.

"I found this whole framework given by an 18 year old girl very interesting," Rahul said, adding that the discussion extended beyond examination reforms.

He argued that the concerns raised by students were rooted in wider issues facing the education system. "Superficially it looks like the students were talking of exams and education system, cost of education. All that is true. Education system is expensive. Students study for years for 8 to 10 hours daily," Rahul said as protests continued in the House.

Rahul's 'andh bhakt' remark sparks Lok Sabha uproar

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's remarks during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill triggered loud protests from the Treasury Benches on Wednesday, prompting Speaker Om Birla to intervene and ask him to confine his remarks to the legislation.

Continuing his speech, Rahul said, "The goal of a student is to run after the truth. The truth is sweet for them."

He went on to recount a conversation he claimed to have had with a student, saying she described those unwilling to accept new ideas as people who relied on a personality cult. "The hallmark of a student is that they wear the truth proudly in their chest while the other type requires a cult image as they are pretending to be God," Rahul said.

As protests continued, Rahul clarified that he was not referring to the Treasury Benches. He then added, "I asked if there's a third category. I said andh bhakt. She said andh bhakt is a category that believes the other idiot is God."

Rahul Gandhi recalls student calling arrogant people 'idiots'

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday shared a conversation he said he had with a young student while speaking during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Recalling the interaction, Rahul said, "I had a conversation with some students, young girls, which gave me a very interesting perspective." He said he asked one of them what it meant to be a student.

According to Rahul, the student replied that "a student is someone with an open heart and mind. Someone who accepts that they don't know anything and whatever they know will be superseded by new knowledge."

Drawing a contrast, Rahul said there was another category of people "who believe they know everything. They believe they are God and knowledge emerges from them. They are arrogant. They don't listen or respect other people's truth."

He concluded by saying, "I asked what do you call this category and she said she calls them idiots."

Rahul Gandhi backs student protests over NEET row

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday praised the nationwide student protests over the NEET paper leak controversy, calling them a powerful reflection of the aspirations of India's youth.

Speaking during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Rahul said the demonstrations were driven by hope rather than hostility.

"I was very excited, reassured by what the future of this country did on our streets. This was not anger, violence, hatred. This was a deep expression of the youth of this country, of the future generation," he said.

Rahul urged leaders across the political spectrum to acknowledge the message conveyed by the protesters.

"I feel all political parties must respect this expression, including my friends in the BJP," he said.

Appealing directly to the ruling party, Rahul added, "If my friends in the BJP were to ask their own children about what they felt what their brothers and sisters were doing, they would find agreement among their own children."

Rahul Gandhi set to join Anti-Paper Leak Bill debate

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is expected to address the House on Wednesday during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.

The legislation was introduced by the government earlier this week following nationwide student demonstrations over the NEET paper leak controversy, which ended with the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The proposed amendment seeks to tighten the legal framework against examination fraud by prescribing harsher penalties for those found guilty of leaking question papers or engaging in related offences. The revised provisions include imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines that may extend to ₹50 lakh.

Since the Monsoon Session began on July 20, Opposition parties have repeatedly pressed the government over the NEET controversy. The issue has dominated parliamentary proceedings, leading to frequent disruptions and leaving limited time for legislative business beyond the introduction of a handful of Bills.

Rahul Gandhi reaches Parliament for Anti-Paper Leak Bill debate

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi reached Parliament on Wednesday ahead of his scheduled intervention in the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The House is currently taking up discussions on the proposed legislation, with Gandhi expected to address members shortly.

Venugopal defends Priyanka over remarks on Pralhad Joshi

Congress MP K.C. Venugopal on Wednesday defended party colleague Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after the BJP objected to her remarks against Union Minister Pralhad Joshi during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026.

Responding to the criticism, Venugopal said the Congress had remained focused on issues affecting students and denied that the party had made personal attacks.

"No personal attack at all. We are debating the issue of students in this country with the utmost priority. Our concern is only for students and parents of this country. We are raising this issue," he said.

He accused the ruling party of attempting to divert the discussion instead of addressing the concerns raised by the Opposition.

"They didn't have an answer. When these people didn't have answers, they tried to have a counter-allegation. Let them do that. No issue. We will raise the issue of students," Venugopal added.

Independent MP Pappu Yadav questions NTA, CBI and ED on accountability

Independent MP from Bihar Pappu Yadav on Wednesday called for sweeping changes to the country's examination system while participating in the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill.

Describing question paper leaks as a matter requiring urgent attention, Yadav said the credibility of recruitment and entrance examinations had come under strain. He also questioned the functioning of institutions responsible for conducting tests and investigating irregularities, arguing that bodies such as the National Testing Agency (NTA), the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate no longer inspired public confidence.

Yadav urged policymakers to minimise human involvement in the examination process and advocated greater institutional independence, saying government intervention should be kept to the bare minimum. Referring to the systems followed in Japan, China and Singapore, he said India should draw lessons from their methods to strengthen transparency and efficiency.

“This is the future of the country we are talking about. The government should take it very seriously,” he said as quoted by The Hindu.