PM should apologize to students, Education Minister must resign: Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi on July 22, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must resign and whoever attacked protesting students must be held accountable, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday (July 22, 2026), a day after his dramatic protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence.

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“They (students) are our future. They are not terrorists,” Mr Gandhi said at a press conference at the All India Congress Committee headquarters here.

He alleged that 152 written exams were leaked in the last ten years and claimed that about 7.5 million students were affected while “there was no conviction”. “Someone or a group of people is destroying our education system, India’s biggest asset,” the opposition leader said.

Throwing the full Congress weight behind the student agitation over repeated exam paper leaks and police excesses, Mr Gandhi said the opposition “100% agrees” with the protesters’ demands, including the demand for Mr Pradhan’s resignation, describing them as “legitimate” and “non-negotiable”.

At the start of the press conference, the Congress leader played videos showing the police crackdown on students during the ‘Sansad Chalo’ protest on Monday. Referring to the visuals, Mr. Gandhi asked why students demanding a fair education system were subjected to violence.

“What have they done to have the security forces point guns at them, to be beaten, beaten? They are protesting peacefully and demanding what this country owes them,” he said, adding that those responsible for the attacks should be held accountable.

Mr Gandhi reiterated the Congress’s charge that the country’s education system had been systematically undermined under the Narendra Modi government. “Our education system, which was known to be one of the best in the world, is now rigged,” he said.

The Congress leader also accused the government of imposing a heavy financial burden on families through the costly coaching ecosystem. Citing party estimates, he claimed that Indian families spend about ₹1.32 lakh annually on exams and coaching, which is almost equivalent to the Union government’s education budget of ₹1.4 lakh, but was later told that the exam papers had been leaked.

Mr Gandhi also linked the education crisis to a lack of job opportunities, arguing that students face diminishing prospects even after completing their education.

“Manufacturing doors are closed, business is closed, corporate jobs are closing and the public sector is weakened. The only avenue left is government jobs, and even that system has been rigged,” he claimed.

Describing Mr Pradhan as “incapable” of handling the education portfolio, Mr Gandhi said the education minister had “failed” and should be relieved of his responsibilities.

When asked about his detention and alleged manipulation by the police, Mr. Gandhi brushed the issue aside. “I don’t mind if someone hits me. The focus should be on the students. If Indian students are on the streets, the opposition should be on the streets,” he said.

“Yes, I was dragged away, but the police were whispering in my ears, ‘please remove this government’,” Mr Gandhi said.

Published – 22 Jul 2026 22:48 IST