Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Rahul Gandhi, Kiren Rijiju Clash Over NEET Protest Police Action
Students protested over alleged problems with the NEET examination paper.
Rahul Gandhi said police treated the protesting students brutally.
He claimed that pellet guns and lathi charges injured some students.
Gandhi said one student lost an eye and a girl injured her ear.
Kiren Rijiju disagreed with this description of the police action.
He said nobody died or suffered a serious injury during the protests.
Rijiju also listed older incidents that happened during Congress governments.
The two leaders therefore argued about both the recent protest and past government responses to demonstrations.
Rahul Gandhi accused the government of defending police brutality against students protesting the NEET paper-leak issue.
Gandhi alleged that police used pellet guns and lathi charges near Parliament, injuring students.
Kiren Rijiju said no protester died or suffered a serious injury during the demonstrations.
Rijiju cited several police-firing incidents and agitations during Congress-led governments.
The dispute also included Gandhi’s criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
- Who
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, with references to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
- What
- A public dispute over Delhi Police action during students’ protests concerning the NEET examination paper leak.
- When
- The exchange began on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday, August 18-19, 2026.
- Where
- The protests were near Parliament and at Jantar Mantar in Delhi; Rijiju also cited incidents in several Indian states.
- Why
- Gandhi accused the government of defending police brutality, while Rijiju defended the police response and argued that the government prioritised citizens’ safety.
Rahul Gandhi and Congress
Kiren Rijiju and Government
Assessment of police action
Rahul Gandhi and Congress
Gandhi described the response as brutality, alleging pellet-gun use, lathi charges and serious injuries to students.
Kiren Rijiju and Government
Rijiju said the police response prevented deaths and serious injuries and should be viewed as restrained.
Evidence and accountability
Rahul Gandhi and Congress
Gandhi said he personally met injured students, that videos showed the police action, and that the government was denying what happened.
Kiren Rijiju and Government
Rijiju focused on the reported absence of deaths and serious injuries and said the government’s priority was life and security.
Use of historical comparisons
Rahul Gandhi and Congress
Gandhi criticised the current government’s handling of the protest and alleged a pattern of untruth and violence.
Kiren Rijiju and Government
Rijiju countered by listing earlier police-firing incidents and other agitations during Congress-led governments.
- Protest issue
- Students were demonstrating over the NEET examination paper leak.
- Rahul Gandhi’s allegation
- He said police used pellet guns and lathi charges and alleged that students suffered eye and ear injuries.
- Kiren Rijiju’s position
- He said no person died, no protester suffered a broken bone, and no protester was in hospital with a serious injury.
- Rijiju’s broader argument
- He said the government showed maximum restraint and should prioritise citizens’ life and security.
- Historical references
- Rijiju cited police-firing and protest incidents during Congress governments, including events in Telangana, Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
- Other criticism
- Gandhi accused Amit Shah of being absent from Opposition questions and Narendra Modi of not apologising to protesting students.