New Delhi, July 24, 2026 : Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Central Government over the alleged use of force against students protesting over the paper leak issue, demanding the immediate removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Addressing the media outside Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s residence at 10, Janpath, Rahul Gandhi presented a student protester, identified as Sahil, who claimed he sustained pellet gun injuries during the July 20 protests.
Holding up the injured protester before reporters, Rahul Gandhi alleged that security personnel had used pellet guns and batons against peaceful demonstrators.
“My brother was struck by a pellet gun when he was peacefully protesting with a tricolour in hand,” Gandhi quoted the injured student as saying while highlighting what he described as excessive use of force by the authorities.
Launching a scathing attack on the Union Education Minister, Gandhi termed Dharmendra Pradhan a “criminal education minister”, alleging that he had become a symbol of the collapse of India’s education system. He asserted that Pradhan must be removed from office and held accountable for the ongoing crisis surrounding examination paper leaks.
The Congress leader also demanded action against those responsible for the alleged pellet firing and baton charge on students. Additionally, he called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to the students, accusing the government of suppressing peaceful protests instead of addressing their concerns.
The remarks come amid heightened political tensions over the nationwide protests demanding accountability in the wake of recent paper leak controversies and education reforms.
