New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a fresh attack on the NDA government over the FIRs registered against students who participated in nationwide protests linked to the alleged NEET paper leak, saying young people cannot be intimidated into silence.
In a post on X, Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of attempting to suppress the voices of the country’s youth. He alleged that the government had first used force against protesting students and was now filing criminal cases and taking down their social media accounts. Calling the BJP “India’s past”, he urged the leadership to be mindful of how it treats the country’s future generation.
Gandhi’s remarks came a day after Parliament cleared the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The legislation provides for dedicated fast track courts in every state and Union Territory to hear examination malpractice cases and introduces stricter penalties, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 10 crore for those found guilty.
The amended law was introduced following nationwide protests over the alleged NEET UG paper leak, which triggered widespread demonstrations and eventually led to the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
A day earlier, Gandhi had also criticised Home Minister Amit Shah over the police response to the Cockroach Janta Party’s “Chalo Sansad” march on July 20. He questioned Shah’s absence from Parliament and accused him of avoiding accountability over the alleged use of pellet guns against protesting students.
The controversy centres on the violence that erupted during the July 20 protests around Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, where clashes broke out between demonstrators and security personnel. Authorities reported injuries to both protesters and police personnel during the unrest.
The FIRs registered against student protesters have since become a major political issue. Cases were filed in several states on charges including unlawful assembly, rioting, damage to public property and assault on police personnel. While some states have withdrawn the cases, the issue remains contentious in Delhi, where the government has initiated the legal process to close the FIRs. Protest leaders, however, continue to demand their formal withdrawal, warning of renewed demonstrations if their demand is not met.
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