A heated debate unfolded in the Lok Sabha during discussions on the Public Examinations Bill, with Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra launching a strong attack on the Centre over the alleged use of force against students protesting examination-related issues. Her remarks triggered repeated interruptions from Treasury Bench members, turning the debate into one of the most intense exchanges of the Monsoon Session.
Questioning the government’s handling of the protests, Priyanka Gandhi asked why authorities allegedly resorted to tear gas shells, water cannons, lathi-charge, pellet guns and even the reported use of AK- 47 rifles against students. She asked “Were they terrorists “? . She further argued that students raising their voices over examination concerns should not be treated like terrorists. She further demanded accountability, asking who had authorised the police action and whether the order came from the Prime Minister or the Union Home Minister. She maintained that these were not merely questions from the Congress, but concerns that the entire country deserved answers to.
Continuing her speech, the Congress leader alleged that the examination system had failed students due to repeated paper leak controversies, saying that many young people were losing faith in merit-based opportunities. She also claimed that some women protesters were mistreated during the demonstrations and accused the government of trying to suppress the voices of young citizens instead of addressing their concerns. According to her, Parliament exists to hold the government accountable to the people, and the aspirations of India’s youth must be protected.
The Opposition echoed similar concerns during the debate, accusing the government of responding to peaceful demonstrations with excessive force instead of dialogue. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, had earlier demanded an explanation for the alleged use of pellet guns during the protests and called for accountability from the Home Ministry. Opposition MPs argued that students seeking fair examinations and transparency should be heard rather than confronted with heavy police action.
However BJP strongly rejected the allegations with ruling Ministers and Mps accusing the congress for politicising issue and misleading claims during the debate. After hours of intense debate, repeated disruptions and sharp exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition benches, the Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, by a voice vote. While the government maintained that the legislation would strengthen the fight against paper leaks and protect the interests of students, Opposition parties argued that tougher laws alone would not restore confidence unless accountability was fixed for repeated examination failures and the police action against protesting students. The debate ended without the government directly answering the Opposition’s demand on who authorised the police crackdown, leaving the issue of accountability at the centre of the political confrontation.
