New Delhi: A fresh political confrontation is expected in Parliament on Monday as Opposition parties prepare to challenge the Centre over the alleged use of excessive force, including pellet guns, against students during the NEET paper leak protests held on July 20.
The issue is likely to dominate proceedings in both Houses, with several Opposition leaders seeking a discussion on the police action against demonstrators who had gathered to protest alleged irregularities in competitive examinations.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking clarification on whether the use of what he termed “lethal force” against the protesting students had been authorised by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has also announced that it will raise the matter in Parliament. Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghosh has submitted a notice under Rule 267, requesting suspension of the day’s business to facilitate an immediate discussion on the alleged use of force by police and paramilitary personnel during the protests.
In her notice, Ghosh argued that peaceful protest is a constitutional right and alleged that students demonstrating against examination-related irregularities were subjected to disproportionate force by security agencies. She has urged the House to deliberate on the incident and the government’s handling of the protests.
While speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi said the Opposition’s strategy inside Parliament would be finalised during a meeting of leaders from the INDIA bloc before the day’s proceedings.
The Congress has maintained that the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the NEET controversy marked a victory for protesting students. However, the party has said that accountability should not end there. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called for strict action against those allegedly responsible for using force against students.
Meanwhile, the government is preparing to introduce the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to further strengthen the legal framework against examination malpractices by prescribing tougher punishments for paper leaks and organised cheating.
According to the draft Bill circulated among Members of Parliament, individuals found guilty of paper leaks or using unfair means in public examinations could face imprisonment ranging from five to ten years, along with fines of up to ₹50 lakh. Cases involving organised examination fraud may attract a minimum prison term of seven years, with financial penalties extending up to ₹10 crore.
The INDIA bloc is expected to discuss its position on the proposed legislation during its parliamentary strategy meeting. Opposition leaders are likely to decide whether to support the Bill while simultaneously pressing the government on its handling of the recent protests and examination-related controversies.
With the debate expected to centre on both examination reforms and the police response to student demonstrations, Monday’s parliamentary session is anticipated to witness heated exchanges between the treasury benches and the Opposition.
