'Students, Idiots, and Andhbhakts': Key Highlights From Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha Speech (Video)

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on the Union government during a parliamentary debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill. Recounting a recent interaction with an 18-year-old student, Gandhi categorized people into "students, idiots, and andhbhakts," triggering immediate uproar in the House and demands for an apology from the ruling benches.

The speech targeted multiple fronts, alleging systemic capture of the education system by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and holding Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for police action against student protesters. Rahul Gandhi, Kiren Rijiju Spar over Remark During Debate on Public Examinations Bill; Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Expunges Expression.

The 3 Categories: Defining 'Students', 'Idiots', and 'Andhbhakts'

Referring to his conversation with a student named Lovely, Gandhi outlined three mindsets regarding knowledge and public discourse:

"A student is someone who has an open mind and open heart, someone who right from the beginning accepts that they don't know anything... A student understands that knowledge is constantly changing."

He contrasted this with what he described as a second category:

"They are absolutely convinced that they know everything... They believe that the universe is static, and they believe that knowledge emerges from inside them; they believe that they are God."

Completing the classification, Gandhi added:

"An 'andhbhakt' is a person who is absolutely convinced that another idiot is God."

The remarks prompted strong objections from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who cited unparliamentary language. Speaker Om Birla subsequently ordered that the objectionable expressions be expunged from the House record. Rahul Gandhi Draws Amit Shah into Debate over Police Action on Protests; BJP Hits Back, LS Adjourned.

Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha Speech

🔵Our education system is a brutal, terrible system. The soul of the system has been captured by the RSS.

🔵There is nothing in the BJP or the RSS. The real challenge is facing your own fear. And that is exactly what the students did. They overcame their fear.

🔵Every Indian… pic.twitter.com/Mej755wVJY

— Congress (@INCIndia) July 29, 2026

Allegations Against Amit Shah and Police Action

Shifting focus to police interventions during recent youth demonstrations in New Delhi, Gandhi directly targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing him of authorizing force against protesting students.

"The Home Minister authorised the shooting on our students. He put pellets into the blood of our students. He ordered the students of India to be shot."

He questioned the use of lathi charges, tear gas, and pellet guns during the demonstrations, claiming such actions could only be carried out under direct directions from the Home Ministry. Treasury benches strongly refuted the charges, with Rijiju demanding an apology and asking the Leader of the Opposition to produce evidence for his claims.

RSS Influence and Systemic Issues in Education

Addressing the broader context of competitive examinations and paper leaks, Gandhi claimed the core issue went beyond administrative measures. He alleged that commercialization and ideological influence had damaged the country's academic structure.

"Our education system is cruel, there is rampant privatisation. The soul of the system has been captured by the RSS."

He argued that institutional capture by the ideological body had compromised the autonomy of educational bodies, rendering recent ministerial resignations merely symbolic.

Defending the Youth Protests

Gandhi concluded by maintaining that the widespread protests following paper leak scandals were a democratic expression of the nation's youth.

"This was not anger, this was not violence, this was not hatred. This was a deep expression of the youth of this country... Every political party must respect this expression."

He asserted that even children of ruling party members would agree with the demands raised by the students for systemic reforms and transparency in national examinations.