Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, has also delivered a blistering indictment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government. Speaking to reporters after his delegation of protesting students meeting at his home in New Delhi, Gandhi declared the country's youth power to determine the future of the nation and that the current unrest is a conflict between a new generation and an old political system.
"Narendra Modi is India’s past; the past can never fight the future," Gandhi declared. “Students are the future of India, and no one can fight them. No amount of strength from the entire Indian government every single person in the government can move you from there. Let them do whatever they want. If they want to stop or threaten you, they can try. We are not going to step back."
Non-negotiable Demands and Structural Failures. Gandhi's comments come in the wake of widespread public anger and demonstrations by student organizations and youth coalitions following allegations of paper leaks and corruption in national competitive examinations, such as NEET-UG. For the protesting candidates, Gandhi’s “non-negotiable” demands were addressed and systemic change must start with immediate accountability at the highest levels, he said.
Among them is the immediate dismissal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Rebuffing media reports and political speculation about a possible Cabinet reshuffle or portfolio reassignment for the minister, Gandhi said that moving officials to different departments would not meet the demands of millions of affected students.
"The demand is for Dharmendra Pradhan’s removal," Gandhi said. “There are three non-negotiable demands. Dharmendra Pradhan must be sacked. The main person in charge, the Prime Minister of Hindustan, must apologize to these students, as they have been beaten, attacked, and disrespected."
BOLD STATEMENT : 🔴🔴
— Priya Purohit (@Priyaa_Purohit) July 25, 2026
Narendra Modi is India's past and the past can never fight with the future.
— LoP Rahul Gandhi 🔥 pic.twitter.com/lin8RtafPO
Standing Firm at Jantar Mantar. To the student leaders of the gathering, Gandhi said opposition parties would continue to spread their concerns inside and outside Parliament, and he urged demonstrators at Jantar Mantar and across the country to stay firm. He said the government had used intimidation tactics like communication blackouts and law enforcement pressure to suppress peaceful protest.
"I said to the students inside: do not worry. They can shut down internet services and attempt to intimidate, but the students will not go away," Gandhi said, adding that youth movements historically drive democratic reforms.
The government has defended its administrative actions, citing fast-track investigations and committee structures for changing competitive testing frameworks. But opposition parties and student unions say that without structural accountability and ministerial resignations, public trust in the examination system cannot be restored. The political challenge is not going away. Student demonstrations continue in big cities, and the battles continue as student demonstrations persist across the city center.
