Rahul Gandhi Accuses Amit Shah of Ordering Student Violence

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met with student protesters on August 5, 2026, at the 10 Janpath residence in New Delhi. The students had previously demonstrated in July to demand the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over paper leak controversies. Gandhi alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah was responsible for police excesses during the July 20 'Sansad Chalo' protest, claiming that security forces used pellet guns and tear gas against youth.

During a press conference, Gandhi described the students as saviors of the Constitution and called for an end to exam leaks. He specifically highlighted the case of a 15-year-old girl allegedly forced to apologize for remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Student activists Riya Ahir and Farah Naaz shared accounts of police brutality and illegal detentions. Gandhi asserted that Shah was either incompetent or culpable for ordering the attacks.

The Bharatiya Janata Party rejected these claims. Spokesperson Sambit Patra denied that bullets were fired during the protests and accused Gandhi of exploiting children for political gain. Meanwhile, Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge led a protest march within the Parliament complex, demanding accountability for police actions and alleged embezzlement of Ayodhya Ram Mandir donations. The demonstrations disrupted the Monsoon Session, forcing the Lok Sabha to adjourn after Speaker Om Birla called for decorum.