Don’t stand in the way of protesting students, they are the voice of India: Rahul tells PM and HM

Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition (LoP), during a press conference with detained protesters at 10 Janpath on October 14, 2026 | Photo credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (Oct 14, 2026) asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to stand in the way of protesting students, calling them the voice of India.

Mr Gandhi said this after meeting students, including activists of the party’s student wing, the National Students Union of India (NSUI), who were injured during the recent protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The meeting was held at the 10 Janpath residence of Congress Parliamentary Party President Sonia Gandhi.

“No Hindu, No Muslim”

The opposition leader asked the students to introduce themselves, narrate their ordeal after being picked up from protest sites by Delhi police, and then asked the students to form a human chain by holding each other’s hands.

“Amit Shah ji, look at this properly. There is no Hindu, no Muslim, no caste, no gender. There is one voice, one protest – it is the voice of Hindustan,” he said.

“And you are standing before this voice and Prime Minister Ji is standing before this voice. I am giving you a suggestion – do not stand before this voice. No one can stand before this voice,” Mr Gandhi added.

Inhuman treatment: students

During the interaction, some students recounted what they described as inhumane treatment in police custody, claiming they were beaten, abused and beaten in intimate parts.

Mr. Gandhi described the students as the party’s sheris and shers (lions and lionesses) and assured them that the Congress would stand by them. He said those responsible for the alleged police excesses would be held accountable, from the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah to the police constables involved in the incidents.

“Preserve Evidence”

The Congress leader also urged the students to keep video and photographic evidence of their treatment in detention.

“Peaceful protest is your right. We will not allow anyone to steal it,” Mr Gandhi said in a post on X, adding that the day will come when those who seek to silence democracy will face the law.

The interaction also addressed concerns within the party that while Mr. Gandhi introduced student protesters like Neha Bora, several NSUI and Youth Congress activists did not get similar visibility.

Published – 14 Oct 2026 19:27 IST