The proceedings of the Lok Sabha faced significant disruptions on Wednesday as the house engaged in a heated debate over the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The session, which saw the Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi leading the charge for the opposition, was eventually adjourned until 2:50 PM following a series of intense exchanges between the treasury and opposition benches. Initially, the Speaker had adjourned the house until 2:30 PM as the uproar escalated over Rahul Gandhi's statements, but the situation necessitated a further delay in the resumption of business.
Rahul Gandhi Addresses the Paper Leak Crisis
Rahul Gandhi took the floor to speak on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, a legislative move aimed at curbing the menace of paper leaks in national competitive exams. During his speech, Gandhi emphasized that the future of the country is currently out on the streets, referring to the protesting students. He directed his comments toward the members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), suggesting that even those within the ruling party should consult their own children to understand the gravity of what has transpired regarding the examination system. He noted that the protests by students were characterized by a demand for their voices to be heard rather than by anger or hatred.
Controversy Over Unparliamentary Language
The atmosphere in the house turned volatile when Rahul Gandhi used the word idiot during his address. This prompted an immediate and sharp reaction from the treasury benches, with members demanding an apology for the use of such language. Senior ministers, including Kiren Rijiju and Rajnath Singh, intervened to object to the terminology used by the Leader of the Opposition. In response to their interruptions, Rahul Gandhi remarked that if the government only wanted the BJP to speak in the house, he would remain silent and sit down. The Speaker, Om Birla, eventually ruled that any words deemed unparliamentary would be expunged from the official records of the house. Gandhi later offered to replace the controversial word with another term, though the Speaker maintained that he had already given his ruling on the matter.
Allegations Against the Home Minister
One of the most contentious moments of the session occurred when Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Home Minister had authorized the use of force against students. He claimed that orders were given to shoot at students and to use pellet guns during protests. These allegations were met with a fierce rebuttal from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who accused Gandhi of speaking without due consideration and making extremely serious but baseless charges. Rijiju demanded an apology, questioning the basis of such claims and stating that accusing the government of firing upon students isn't a minor matter. Amidst the shouting of slogans by opposition MPs demanding that Rahul Gandhi be allowed to speak, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav intervened, stating that if such serious allegations have been made, it's the government's responsibility to investigate who treated the students in such a manner.
RSS Influence and the Education System
Continuing his critique, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the entire educational system has been compromised. He claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has taken control of the system, asserting that every university in the country now has a Vice Chancellor affiliated with the RSS. He further stated that students have realized the situation and have decided that they won't become blind followers or andhbhakts under any circumstances. Gandhi also commented on the absence of the Home Minister in the house, claiming that he had seen him in a car and that he appeared to be trembling or scared to face the discussion in the parliament.
Details of the Legislative Debate
The discussion on the paper leak bill has entered its second consecutive day. On Tuesday, the house saw a marathon debate lasting 9 hours. During the first day of the discussion, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj presented the government's perspective on the necessity of the amendment. From the opposition side, prominent leaders including Gaurav Gogoi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Akhilesh Yadav participated in the debate. Rahul Gandhi highlighted the financial burden on students, noting that the cost of conducting a single examination often exceeds the entire education budget, and lamented that poor children are being deprived of their hard-earned money due to repeated paper leaks and systemic failures.