Sack Amit Shah, my advice to PM: Rahul Gandhi doubles down on use of force claim
Sack Amit Shah, my advice to PM: Rahul Gandhi doubles down on use of force claim
M.U.H
30/07/202620
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday refused to apologise for his remarks in the Lok Sabha accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of authorising the use of force against student protesters, and renewed his call for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack the Home Minister.
Hours earlier, Gandhi's remarks had triggered a political storm during the Lok Sabha debate on the anti-paper leak Bill, with NDA MPs demanding an apology and asking him to substantiate his allegations. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also intervened, reminding the Leader of the Opposition that allegations made in the House must be backed by evidence.
"Sack Amit Shah, that's my advice to PM Modi," Gandhi said at a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi.
The Leader of the Opposition claimed he had been assured he would be allowed to continue his speech if he apologised, but said he would "never ever apologise" to the BJP or the RSS.
"Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju were allowed to speak multiple times. I was given an assurance that if I apologised, I would be allowed to continue. I will never ever apologise to the BJP or the RSS," Gandhi said.
He asserted that it was his right as Leader of the Opposition to raise issues of national importance and said the police action against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak was the most pressing issue before the country.
"Rajnath Singh and Kiren Rijiju were allowed to speak multiple times. I was given an assurance that if I apologised, I would be allowed to continue. I will never ever apologise to the BJP or the RSS," Gandhi said.
He asserted that it was his right as Leader of the Opposition to raise issues of national importance and said the police action against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak was the most pressing issue before the country.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh rejected the allegations as "factually incorrect", asserting that no bullets were fired and no order to open fire had been issued during the protest.
The uproar over Gandhi's remarks came ahead of the Lok Sabha passing the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote on Wednesday.
The legislation introduces sweeping changes to the anti-paper leak law, including stricter punishment of up to 10 years' imprisonment and a Rs 50 lakh fine for offenders.
