Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said MPs and leaders of the INDIA bloc were proceeding peacefully to Gandhi Smriti to honour students who allegedly died in the wake of the NEET paper leak controversy and to express solidarity with those injured during the ongoing protests seeking justice and accountability.
In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi said the visit to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg was meant to commemorate students who allegedly took their own lives following the examination controversy and to stand with those who had suffered injuries during recent demonstrations.
“Right now, MPs and leaders of the INDIA alliance are peacefully heading to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg,” Gandhi said.
Elaborating on the purpose of the march, he added, “We go to remember the students we lost — the children driven to take their own lives after the NEET paper leak.”
Referring to the reported police action against demonstrators, Gandhi said, “And we go to stand with the students who lie injured today — beaten for peacefully demanding justice and accountability.”
Reiterating the Opposition’s support for the student community, he said, “India’s students are not alone. The entire Opposition stands with them and their demands.”
The Congress and its INDIA bloc allies have stepped up their campaign against the Centre over the alleged examination paper leaks and the handling of student protests, making the issue a major flashpoint of the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. Opposition parties have accused the government of failing to preserve the credibility of competitive examinations and have demanded the resignation of union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that repeated paper leaks have jeopardised the future of lakhs of aspirants.
The Opposition has also criticised the police response to student demonstrations, alleging that peaceful protesters were subjected to force while seeking accountability for the alleged examination irregularities. The government has rejected these allegations, defended its handling of the situation and maintained that investigations into the alleged paper leaks are underway.
The INDIA bloc’s march to Gandhi Smriti took place against the backdrop of continuing disruptions in Parliament, where Opposition parties have been demanding a discussion on the examination controversy and pressing for political accountability. While the government has expressed its willingness to discuss the issue, it has ruled out the Opposition’s demand for the resignation of the Education Minister, leaving the impasse unresolved.
