NEW DELHI: The opposition is set to intensify its attack on the government in Parliament on Monday by demanding the resignation of Union home minister Amit Shah over the police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas said.Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Sunday, Brittas said opposition parties would also raise the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as secretary, department of higher education, when Parliament resumes.The remarks come a day after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned following a 36-day agitation led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), with the government also accepting the protesters’ other key demands.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
“Last day, Shah said the government respected the youth who led the protest. Where was that respect for the last 36 days? When students were being beaten on the streets of the national capital, and their skulls were being cracked open, where was that respect?” Brittas said.“If there is even a grain of sincerity in those words, Amit Shah too should resign. Dharmendra Pradhan has resigned. The home minister, who is responsible for this brutal assault on innocent students, must resign,” he added.
Opposition prepares to corner government in Parliament
Brittas said the opposition would support any move to strengthen laws against examination-related fraud but questioned the government’s decision to amend the existing legislation instead of ensuring its implementation.He noted that Parliament had enacted the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act in 2024 after the government claimed it would curb paper leaks.“Now the government is only proposing amendments to that law. The problem is not the absence of legislation but the lack of political will to enforce it and the authorities’ alleged compromise with vested interests,” he claimed.INDIA bloc parties are planning to seek an urgent discussion in Parliament on the alleged use of excessive force against students protesting the NEET paper leak.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has written to home minister Amit Shah seeking accountability, while Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose has submitted a notice in the Rajya Sabha seeking suspension of business to discuss the issue.The opposition is expected to raise allegations regarding the use of pellet guns, the deployment of men in plain clothes during the July 20 protest, and injuries suffered by students. The government, meanwhile, is scheduled to introduce amendments to the anti-paper leak law in the Lok Sabha on Monday.The proposed Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, seeks stricter penalties for paper leaks, including imprisonment of up to 10 years and fines of up to Rs 50 lakh for individuals involved, while organised crimes related to examination fraud could attract fines of up to Rs 10 crore.
Questions over higher education secretary appointment
Brittas also questioned the appointment of Naresh Pal Gangwar as secretary, department of higher education, alleging that the officer had previously faced accusations of irregularities in the disbursal of central government subsidies.“Such an officer has now been appointed to head the department responsible for public examinations, where transparency and integrity are of utmost importance. All these issues will be raised during the discussion in Parliament,” he said.He further alleged that while authorities had released details of police personnel injured during the protests, no information had been made public about injured students.“The home ministry has released details of police personnel who were allegedly injured. But not a single detail has been made public about the protesters who were brutally assaulted. There is a complete veil of secrecy over their condition,” Brittas claimed.He said the identities and medical condition of injured students should be disclosed so that their families and organisations willing to assist them could provide support.Separately, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut also blamed Amit Shah for the police action during the July 20 ‘Sansad Chalo’ march organised by the CJP at Jantar Mantar.Raut alleged that students were attacked and women protesters were harassed, holding the home minister responsible for the incident. He also claimed Shah was responsible for “whatever bad and undemocratic is happening in the country.”The BJP rejected Raut’s remarks, with Maharashtra BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban asking the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader to focus on his “already depleted party”.The protests, which began on June 20 over the NEET paper leak, were called off on Saturday after the government accepted key demands of the protesters and Dharmendra Pradhan stepped down as education minister.The July 20 police action against protesters marching towards Parliament has since become a major flashpoint, with opposition parties alleging excessive use of force, including pellet guns.Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the protest, while the CRPF has not publicly responded to allegations involving its Rapid Action Force.
