Congress President and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge condemned police lathi-charges against students protesting a NEET paper leak during a Rajya Sabha session [1].
The incident highlights escalating tensions between the opposition and the government over educational integrity and the right to peaceful assembly in New Delhi. The clash occurs amidst a broader debate regarding the transparency of national examinations and government accountability.
Speaking during the Rajya Sabha Monsoon Session, Kharge addressed the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 [1]. He focused his criticism on the police action taken against students at Jantar Mantar, where protesters had gathered to demand answers regarding the alleged NEET paper leak [2, 3].
Kharge said the police response was an "attack on democracy" [3]. He said the government is attempting to silence dissent through force rather than addressing the grievances of the student community [3].
Beyond the protests, Kharge raised concerns regarding the government's handling of the Ram Mandir donation row and demanded accountability from the Prime Minister regarding those funds [2].
Adding to the friction within the chamber, Kharge said his microphone was switched off while he was speaking in Parliament [3]. This action, he said, further illustrates the government's effort to suppress the voice of the opposition during critical legislative debates [3].
The Congress leader said that the combination of police violence against students, and the silencing of leaders in the house, represents a systemic failure of democratic norms [3].
“Attack on democracy”
This confrontation signals a deepening rift in India's legislative process, where the opposition is increasingly using parliamentary privilege to highlight street-level police actions. By linking the NEET paper-leak protests to broader issues of financial accountability and parliamentary censorship, the Congress party is attempting to frame the current administration as fundamentally opposed to democratic transparency and student rights.
