Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 28: Congress members on Tuesday submitted notices in both Houses of Parliament seeking an urgent discussion on the alleged use of force against students protesting over the NEET paper leak issue.
The demand comes as the Centre is set to take up discussion on the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, introduced to strengthen anti-paper leak laws with stricter penalties.
In the Rajya Sabha, Congress MPs Randeep Surjewala and Syed Naseer Hussain submitted notices under Rule 267, while in the Lok Sabha, Deputy Leader of the Congress Gaurav Gogoi and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari moved adjournment motions seeking suspension of the day's listed business to discuss the issue.
The Congress has demanded accountability from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police action against students and called on him to make a statement in Parliament regarding the reported use of lathi-charge, tear gas and pellet guns during the protests.
In their notices, the MPs sought an immediate discussion on the reported assault on students during the Jul 20 protest march in Delhi, alleging excessive use of force, including against women students and journalists.
They also demanded statements from the Union Home Minister clarifying whether the use of force had been authorised and identifying those responsible, as well as from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the government's response, accountability and safeguards to prevent similar incidents in future.
The notices stated that the matter required urgent consideration as it involved issues relating to democratic rights, the conduct of law enforcement agencies and accountability for actions taken against protesters.
In his notice, Gaurav Gogoi said the reported use of excessive force had been acknowledged by the Director General of the Rapid Action Force. He cited official reports stating that more than 170 people, including protesters and security personnel, were taken to hospitals following the violence, with around 60 to 90 injured protesters requiring medical treatment.
Gogoi also referred to media reports alleging that several students sustained serious injuries, including one who reportedly suffered severe eye injuries due to the alleged use of pellet guns.
He further claimed that there were allegations of women students being physically assaulted, including instances of targeted sexual violence, and that unidentified individuals in plain clothes had participated in the operation alongside uniformed personnel.
Stating that the Delhi Police functions under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, Gogoi said it was necessary to examine whether the use of force had been authorised and to fix accountability.
In his adjournment notice, Manish Tewari sought suspension of Question Hour, Zero Hour and other listed business to discuss the reported use of pellet guns by the Rapid Action Force against unarmed student protesters during the Jul 20 march to Parliament, which he claimed left more than 80 people injured.
The 36-day agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar ended on Saturday after the government accepted key demands of the protesters and Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union education minister.
Police and protesters have blamed each other for the violence that erupted during the Jul 20 march to Parliament.