The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday strongly refuted Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi's remarks in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Anti-Paper Leak Bill, accusing him of misleading Parliament with what it described as false allegations about police action against student protesters during the July 20 Parliament march.
Addressing a press conference shortly after the Lok Sabha was adjourned, BJP MP Sambit Patra dismissed Gandhi's claim that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had ordered police to open fire on students participating in the protest. Patra categorically stated that no police firing had taken place during the demonstration and questioned the basis of Gandhi's allegations.
"If no firing took place, where does the question of such an order arise?" Patra said, asserting that Gandhi's statement was factually incorrect and intended to create confusion.
Clarifying the standard protocol followed during public demonstrations, Patra explained that decisions regarding the use of force are taken by the executive magistrate deployed at the site along with security personnel, and not by the Union Home Minister.
"Whenever there is a public march or protest, security forces are deployed along with a magistrate, who assesses the situation and takes decisions on the ground. The Home Minister does not issue such operational orders," he said.
The BJP leader accused Rahul Gandhi of spreading misinformation inside the House and attempting to politicise the issue of student protests linked to the alleged examination paper leak controversy.
Patra also responded to Gandhi's criticism over Amit Shah's absence during the Lok Sabha debate. He said the Home Minister was attending a pre-scheduled public programme, the details of which were already in the public domain.
"The Home Minister's programme was announced well in advance. Raising questions about his absence without acknowledging his official engagement is unfair and misleading," Patra said.
The exchange came amid heated discussions in Parliament over the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, commonly referred to as the Anti-Paper Leak Bill. The legislation seeks to strengthen safeguards against examination malpractices by introducing stricter penalties and faster mechanisms to deal with cases of paper leaks and other unfair means.
The debate witnessed sharp exchanges between the treasury benches and the Opposition, with Rahul Gandhi accusing the government of suppressing student voices and alleging excessive police action during the recent Parliament march organised over the NEET paper leak issue. The BJP, however, maintained that Gandhi's claims were baseless and reiterated that no police firing had taken place during the protest.
With both sides standing by their respective positions, the issue is expected to remain a key flashpoint in Parliament as political parties continue to trade charges over the handling of the examination leak controversy and the government's legislative response.
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