'Don't Lie to Children': Rahul Gandhi Hits Out at Kiren Rijiju Over Praise for Delhi Police's Handling of NEET Protests

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday following the latter’s praise for the Delhi Police’s handling of student demonstrations over the NEET paper leak controversy. Criticizing the government’s stance, Gandhi accused security forces of exercising excessive force against peaceful student demonstrators near Parliament and urged the administration not to "lie to children."

The Congress leader's remarks came in response to statements made by Rijiju, who defended the administration and security personnel, claiming the Delhi Police managed large crowds effectively without causing casualties or serious injuries.

Rijiju Defends Police Action During Parliament Protest

#WATCH | Delhi: On the Jantar Mantar protest, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju says, "...Not a single person was harmed; not a single person suffered a broken bone. Not even one protester is in the hospital with a serious injury. Consider the scale of this… pic.twitter.com/Y3nNSmVML3

— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2026

Rijiju had noted that police acted only when demonstrators attempted to breach barricades while marching toward Parliament, adding that the force deserved credit for preventing severe incidents. 'Who Ordered the Firing?': Rahul Gandhi Demands Answer From Amit Shah, Says Home Minister Must Go (Video).

Rejecting the Union Minister’s claims, Gandhi took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight allegations of police brutality during the protests. He asserted that student demonstrators were subjected to harsh crowd-control measures, including the alleged use of nail-studded lathis and pellet guns within half a kilometer of Parliament, resulting in severe injuries to some protesting students.

'Don't Lie to Children'

मोदी सरकार के मंत्री कह रहे हैं कि “दिल्ली पुलिस की तारीफ करनी चाहिए।”

संसद से आधा किलोमीटर दूर, शांतिपूर्ण छात्रों पर पैलेट गन चली, कील लगी लाठियाँ चलीं, एक बच्चे की आँख चली गई, एक बच्ची का कान कट गया। इस बर्बरता की तारीफ करनी चाहिए?

मैं ख़ुद उन घायल बच्चों से मिला हूँ।… https://t.co/LELgwxuQcE

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 18, 2026

Gandhi emphasized that he had personally met several injured students and pointed out that thousands of video clips documenting the police action were already in the public domain. Accusing the government of relying on denial after employing force against students, the Congress MP alleged that the administration habitually refuses to acknowledge its missteps.

Expanding his criticism, Gandhi also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over their response to the ongoing paper leak row. He noted that the Prime Minister has yet to tender an apology to affected students, while alleging that the Home Minister remained evasive throughout the parliamentary session. Rahul Gandhi Demands Justice for Students, Shares Video Alleging Police Brutality During NEET Protest.

The nationwide student demonstrations stemmed from widespread allegations of irregularities and paper leaks surrounding competitive examinations, including NEET. While the government has pledged strict measures—with Prime Minister Modi promising the establishment of fast-track courts to prosecute those involved in examination leaks—opposition parties continue to press for accountability regarding both exam governance and the policing of youth-led protests.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 18, 2026 07:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).