NEW DELHI — Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday following the PM's first major comments on the paper leak controversy, doubling down on the Opposition's demands amid ongoing protests in the capital.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi stated on X that "those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," announcing that the government would set up fast-track courts to ensure swift punishment for perpetrators.

In a direct rebuttal reposting the Prime Minister's message, Gandhi accused the administration of enabling systemic failures: "You are the one who has harmed the future of our youth the most. You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system — and protected every person responsible for it.


Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi escalated their attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, forcefully backing the demands of the activist group Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).

Rahul Gandhi reiterated the group’s three core demands on social media: "The students’ demands are clear: 1. Sack Dharmendra Pradhan. 2. Apologise to the students. 3. Take action against those who assaulted them."

Joining the critique, Kharge urged the Prime Minister to "come out of your air-conditioned ivory towers and look into the eyes of the young men and women who bled on the streets, fighting your dictatorship." The Congress president condemned the recent police response to student demonstrations, alleging that the administration used indiscriminate brutality, including lathi-charges, shock batons, and pellet guns. Rejecting the government's recent statements as "platitudes," Kharge asserted that the national education system had steadily corroded under the current administration's watch.


Echoing these concerns, Mallikarjun Kharge accused the RSS—the BJP’s ideological parent organization—of taking control of the country's academic framework. Highlighting economic pressures alongside educational unrest, Kharge pointed to a youth unemployment rate of 29% according to Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) data, citing a lack of private sector growth, dwindling permanent government jobs, and widespread contractualization. "All doors are shut. Where does the youth go to demand a future?" he asked.

A chorus of senior Congress leaders backed the stance, with Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, and K.C. Venugopal also criticizing the Prime Minister's remarks. Khera targeted the ruling party on X, writing, "Just to save Dharmendra Pradhan’s chair, the entire BJP has rushed to his defence," before adding that the Education Minister’s resignation remains an essential first step toward reform

https://x.com/Pawankhera/status/2080149767087443973

https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/2080146907511566574

https://x.com/kcvenugopalmp/status/2080151030491406734

EW DELHI — Central Delhi turned into a battleground on July 20 as thousands of student demonstrators taking part in CJP's 'Chalo Sansad' march clashed with security forces over the NEET 2026 paper leak row. Authorities deployed tear gas and lathi-charged marchers near key government zones, sparking national outcry as footage of the violence spread across social media platforms.

The political standoff escalated sharply on July 21 when Rahul Gandhi staged an unprecedented sit-in outside Prime Minister Modi’s Lok Kalyan Marg residence, demanding the resignations of PM Modi, Amit Shah, and Dharmendra Pradhan. Security forces intervened after a hours-long standoff, forcibly bundling Gandhi and other Congress figures into police buses before releasing them late Tuesday night.