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Rahul Gandhi, in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, seeks accountability for the crackdown on student protesters and questions the use of pellet guns
Escalating the row over the crackdown on student protesters, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding accountability for the "barbaric assault" and asking whether he had approved the use of "lethal force", including pellet guns, against the youth.
In his letter to Shah, Rahul said peaceful protest is crucial to any democracy and it is the government's responsibility to protect protesters and resolve their grievances through dialogue.
Also read | From JP to CJP: How Delhi remains the epicentre of India’s power-shifting protests
"Such brutal violence destroys every norm, and has outraged the country. Youth and students, the future of our country, are demanding answers and accountability. Their voice will be heard," the former Congress chief said.
Questions crackdown on students
"I write to demand accountability for the barbaric assault on students who were peacefully protesting in Delhi on July 20, 2026. Our students were demanding a fair and accountable education system. Instead of being heard, security forces assaulted them with indiscriminate force, including lethal weapons and tear gas," Rahul said in his letter dated July 25.
"Hundreds have suffered serious injuries and women students have been assaulted by policemen, including by deliberately targeting their private parts," he said.
Rahul said most shocking has been the use of lethal pellet guns. "Reports in the media and social media clearly show people who have suffered grave injuries including a journalist. I met 19-year old student Sahil Lochab, who is now in severe pain and is likely to lose an eye because he was shot with pellet guns," he said.
"Security forces deployed in Delhi answer ultimately to you, so I ask: As Home Minister, did you approve the use of lethal force, including pellet guns against students? If not, who did?" Rahul said. Are the people in plain clothes seen beating students with lathis police personnel or volunteers, he asked.
'Just the beginning', says Dipke
Calling the campaign just the beginning, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke on Sunday (July 26) said the party had "a long way to go" and vowed to continue its political journey.
In his first video message after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, Dipke thanked supporters across the country for standing by the movement throughout its 37-day protest.
Also read | How songs of resistance have bound protestors at Jantar Mantar with generations of past dissenters
He also expressed gratitude to those who had criticised the party, saying their feedback had helped it improve. "I want to thank everyone who criticised us and asked legitimate questions. If you hadn't criticised us, we probably wouldn't have improved. It is because of your criticism that we were able to deliver on our promise," he said.
The CJP on Saturday called off its 37-day agitation after Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister and the Centre accepted its other key demands. The protest, centred on alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, had culminated in a prolonged sit-in at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and drew support from students and Opposition leaders from across the country.
(With agency inputs)
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Live Updates
- 26 July 2026 3:03 PM IST
Students reclaimed democracy and ended Hindu-Muslim hatred: PDP MLA Parra
Jammu and Kashmir-based Peoples Democratic Party MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra hailed the outcome of the student protests in Delhi, saying it was a "victory for democracy" and a "victory of the youth" of India.
"It is a good thing that the youth here have not only reclaimed their democracy but also, in some way, have ended Hindu-Muslim hatred and have stood with each other with mutual respect. They have taken a stand for their future, for their exams, for their jobs, for their education," the legislator was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
- 26 July 2026 2:57 PM IST
Pradhan resignation a victory for Rahul Gandhi, youth: Congress MP
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said former Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation marks a "victory" for the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the youth who contributed to the protest, directly or indirectly. "Regarding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, I would say this is a major setback for this arrogant government. Rahul Gandhi has also written to Amit Shah; this is merely the first milestone… He resigned only due to immense pressure from the public, but there is still no genuine honesty of intent," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
"Secondly, Rahul Gandhi has consistently emphasised the need to fix accountability and prevent any recurrence of such incidents. Thirdly, the Cabinet operates on the principle of collective responsibility; therefore, simply changing an individual is not enough; the system itself must change," the Jharkhand MP said.
- 26 July 2026 2:42 PM IST
Suvendu blames 'Islamic fundamentalists' for Kolkata NEET protest violence
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday said Islamic fundamentalists, possibly with the backing of foreign forces, perpetrated the violence during the recent protest in Kolkata against the NEET question paper leak.
Clashes broke out between Left-backed protestors and police officers during the demonstration on Friday (July 24), prompting security forces to baton-charge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the demonstrators.
The state invoked its newly enacted anti-goons law against those accused of orchestrating violence during Friday's NEET protest, with Adhikari warning they would face punishment "their next three generations will remember".
He had earlier told the state Assembly that around 70 people identified from the rally were "not students" and had no connection with the agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak. The BJP CM reiterated the assertion while speaking to reporters in Nandigram after attending a programme to mark Kargil Vijay Diwas.
- 26 July 2026 2:31 PM IST
Tej Pratap arrested for NEET protest
Former Bihar minister and Janshakti Janata Dal chief Tej Pratap Yadav was arrested for allegedly protesting over the NEET paper leak in the state capital, his lawyer has said.
The arrest was made a day before the police registered an FIR, he alleged.
The police, however, did not comment on the allegation made by Yadav’s lawyer Jagannath Singh.
“The FIR against Tej Pratap Yadav was registered on July 26, while the arrest was made around 7.30 pm on July 25 evening from a mall in Patna. He was produced before the judicial magistrate court around 12.15 am on Sunday, which sent him to judicial custody. My client is now in Beur Central Jail,” the lawyer said.
Singh said he would approach a competent court on Monday, seeking Yadav’s bail.
The police had alleged that Yadav’s actions led to the escalation of NEET paper leak-related protests in Patna on Saturday, which resulted in property damage.
Shortly after Yadav joined protesters during a sit-in at Ram Gulam Chowk in Patna, he was detained and taken away in a police vehicle.
- 26 July 2026 1:42 PM IST
MP social media influencer booked over abusive reel against Pradhan
A social media influencer in Madhya Pradesh's Niwari district has landed in soup for allegedly posting an objectionable video on Instagram using abusive language against former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Police have registered a first information report (FIR) under sections 296(a) (obscene act in any public place to the annoyance of others) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) following a complaint lodged by a local BJP leader, an official said.
Talking to PTI, Niwari Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDOP) K K Pandey said BJP leader Kamlesh Chaurasia, in his complaint, alleged that Yashpal Soni, a social media influencer, uploaded a video on Instagram in which he used abusive language against Pradhan and the Delhi police, he said.
The complainant demanded strict action against Soni, Pandey said, adding that a probe is underway in the case.
Several memes and posts targeting the government surfaced on social media over the last few weeks amid the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the Delhi police's crackdown against protesters.
- 26 July 2026 1:14 PM IST
Pradhan did not resign voluntarily, students made him quit: Shivakumar
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said that Dharmendra Pradhan did not voluntarily resign as Union Education Minister, but he was made to step down by the students and the youth of the country.
He said students are the future of the country. Their sentiments need to be respected and their interests should be protected.
"Pradhan, the Education Minister of the country, did not resign, he was made to resign. It was not the wish of any political party or the government. It was the wish of the students, the youth, and the 130 crore people of the country that we must protect the future," Shivakumar said.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, he said the future stands with the youth and students, and their sentiments need to be respected and their interest must be protected. "It is the duty of the country," he added.
- 26 July 2026 12:09 PM IST
Modi must apologise for action against protesters; issue to be raised in Parliament: Venugopal
AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students over the police action against protesters demonstrating in New Delhi over the alleged NEET paper leak, and said the issue would be raised in Parliament on July 27.
Speaking to reporters in Kerala, the Alappuzha MP said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has convened a meeting of opposition parties on Monday morning to chalk out a joint strategy for the Parliament session.
Venugopal said the Centre had circulated a proposed legislation aimed at making the examination system foolproof and introducing stricter legal provisions against examination malpractices. "We will discuss the proposed bill and decide the parliamentary strategy unanimously at the meeting of opposition parties," he said.
He alleged that several questions remained unanswered by the union government, particularly regarding the police action against students protesting in the national capital.
"The Delhi Police confronted the student protest in an unprecedented manner. Paramilitary forces, including the CRPF, were also deployed. Why were pellet balls used? What kind of weapons were authorised? Under whose instructions were they used? Was it under the instructions of the home minister," Venugopal asked. He said Union Home Minister Amit Shah was duty-bound to answer these questions in Parliament.
- 26 July 2026 12:07 PM IST
Students have shown PM that votes can be 'stolen', not people: Uddhav
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday hailed students for their nationwide protests over the alleged exam papers leak, saying the agitation marked the beginning of a larger fight against the BJP and proved that "votes can be stolen, but not people".
He was addressing a gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai after his cousin and MNS chief Raj Thackeray led a one-minute silence in memory of 21 students who allegedly died by suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy.
Uddhav Thackeray said the youth had written "a golden chapter" in India's democratic history through their unity. He said the students' agitation had evolved into a nationwide movement. "People ask us why we are talking about elections when they are still three years away. The answer is simple. Modi has now realised that votes can be stolen, but not people," he said.
"No election has been won today. Patriots (deshbhakt) have defeated blind followers (andhbhakt). This is the beginning of a bigger struggle. This is a fight between the BJP and India," he asserted.
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uddhav Thackeray said Union ministers were busy "breaking political parties" instead of governing the country. "I want to tell Prime Minister Modi that it is time to focus on the country. Your ministers are busy breaking political parties. Tell them to start working for the nation," he said.
- 26 July 2026 11:01 AM IST
Mumbai ramps up security ahead of Uddhav-Raj Thackeray joint rally
Police have tightened security and imposed traffic diversions in parts of Mumbai ahead of the joint rally by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday. Additional police personnel have been deployed at key locations, while traffic has been regulated to manage the expected rush of people attending the event.
- 26 July 2026 10:34 AM IST
Youth protest failure of govt as well as Oppn; gave oxygen to democracy: Uddhav
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has hailed youth protests seeking removal of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as "oxygen to democracy" and called the Cockroach Janata Party’s agitation a reflection of the failure of both the government and the Opposition.
It is commendable that people have no fear of jail or guns and this is "dangerous" for the ruling party, Thackeray said in an interview to Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, the executive editor of party mouthpiece 'Saamana'.
"These protests have given oxygen to democracy which was almost dying," Thackeray said in the interview given before Pradhan's resignation and published in Saamana on Sunday. He also questioned the absence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from the protests. "CJP's protest is not only a failure of the ruling party but also of the Opposition. I had mentioned this sometime back...the country has lost trust in politicians," he said.
The outburst in the form of protests by the youth was not just about NEET alone; it was an explosion of the betrayal and discontent of the last 12 years, and it is very fervent, he opined. "From Delhi to Mumbai, (I) have realised that people have moved beyond fear. Till now people were kept at gunpoint, but now they shrugged fear for their life and have hit the streets," Thackeray said.
Slamming the BJP-led Centre, he claimed the government has completely failed. "(They have) completely destroyed the country," the Sena (UBT) leader charged.
