Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday intensified the Opposition’s offensive against the Centre over the alleged police crackdown on student protesters, alleging that a 19-year-old Delhi University student was struck in the face by a pellet gun during the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march and reiterating his demand for the resignation of union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Speaking at a press conference, Gandhi cited the case of Sahil, a Delhi University student, claiming that he was peacefully participating in the demonstration when Delhi Police allegedly fired a pellet gun that hit him in the face.
“Sahil was peacefully protesting in Delhi on 20th July. He was shot in the face by a pellet gun by Delhi Police,” Gandhi said.
The Congress leader said Sahil, 19, supplements his family’s income by working part-time as a driver while pursuing his studies. He alleged that the student had previously been affected by the alleged leak of the 2025 SSC Delhi Constable examination and had joined the protest fearing that the same examination vendor had once again been entrusted with conducting the recruitment process.
“He joined the protests to demand justice and a better future. Now he risks losing vision in one eye permanently,” Gandhi said.
“This is what our students face for asking questions and demanding accountability. We stand with Sahil. We stand with every student demanding accountability. Enough is enough. Education Minister Pradhan must resign,” he added.
Gandhi also referred to videos and other documentation he had earlier shared from the July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march, alleging that several students and young protesters sustained serious injuries during the police action.
The allegations have injected fresh political heat into the controversy surrounding the nationwide student protests over the NEET-UG paper leak and alleged irregularities in other competitive examinations. While the police have acknowledged using water cannons, tear gas and batons to disperse demonstrators, authorities have denied allegations that pellet guns were used.
The July 20 “Sansad Chalo” march saw thousands of students attempt to march towards Parliament, demanding accountability for repeated examination paper leaks, cancellation of compromised recruitment examinations and sweeping reforms to restore credibility to the country’s examination system. The protest ended in clashes after police stopped demonstrators from proceeding towards Parliament.
Reiterating his criticism of the government’s handling of examination reforms, Gandhi claimed that 152 paper leaks had taken place over the past decade, affecting nearly 7.5 crore families without a single conviction. He also alleged that Indian families spend around Rs 1.32 lakh crore every year on competitive examinations, an amount he said was nearly equal to the country’s annual education budget.
The Congress leader reiterated the Opposition’s three key demands — the immediate removal of union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stringent legal action against security personnel allegedly responsible for attacking peaceful protesters, and a formal apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to students over the government’s handling of the demonstrations.
The controversy has further intensified the political standoff during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. INDIA bloc parties, including the Trinamool Congress, have announced a coordinated strategy to raise the alleged use of pellet guns against students in both Houses, demanding answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The issue has contributed to repeated disruptions in Parliament, with Opposition parties continuing to press for a discussion on the examination paper leak controversy and the Education Minister’s resignation.
Gandhi also criticised advisories issued by educational institutions, including Delhi University, cautioning students against participating in protests, alleging that such directives were intended to intimidate students and suppress democratic dissent.
The government has dismissed the Opposition’s allegations regarding the use of pellet guns and has maintained that security personnel acted within the framework of law to maintain public order.
Nevertheless, the competing narratives are expected to remain at the centre of a fierce political confrontation as demands for accountability over the examination crisis continue to dominate the national discourse.
