Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday intensified his attack on the Centre over concerns related to examination irregularities, calling Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation amid student protests a “superficial” step. Gandhi also targeted the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing the organisation of influencing India’s education system and describing it as the “real enemy” of students. Gandhi made the remarks during a discussion in the Lok Sabha, where the government’s proposed measures to prevent paper leaks and unfair practices in public examinations were being debated.

His comments triggered strong reactions from ruling alliance members, leading to protests inside the House and demands for an apology from the opposition leader. The Congress leader alleged that the resignation of the education minister, if considered in response to student concerns, would not address what he described as deeper problems within the examination system. He argued that accountability should extend beyond individual officials and focus on what he called structural issues affecting education in the country.

Gandhi accused the RSS, the ideological parent organisation of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of having a role in shaping the education system. He alleged that the organisation had “captured the soul” of education and claimed that this was affecting students and institutions. The remarks drew immediate criticism from the treasury benches. BJP and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members objected to Gandhi’s statements and accused him of making politically motivated allegations. Leaders from the ruling side demanded that he apologise for his comments against the RSS and the government.

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Gandhi also criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the police response to student protests. He alleged that authorities used excessive force against protesting students, including the use of pellet guns, and held the Home Ministry responsible for the handling of demonstrations. The government rejected Gandhi’s allegations and defended its approach towards maintaining law and order. Ministers and ruling party members argued that security agencies acted according to established procedures and accused the opposition of attempting to politicise issues related to examination reforms.

The confrontation comes amid wider political debate over paper leaks and irregularities in competitive examinations. Student groups across several states have raised concerns about the fairness and transparency of recruitment and entrance examinations, prompting demands for stronger safeguards and accountability mechanisms. The Centre has introduced legislation aimed at preventing unfair practices in public examinations, with provisions targeting activities such as question paper leaks, impersonation and cheating. The government has maintained that the measures are intended to protect students’ interests and strengthen the credibility of examination systems.

Opposition parties, however, have continued to question the effectiveness of the government’s response and have demanded greater accountability from those responsible for failures in conducting examinations. Gandhi’s remarks in Parliament further escalated the political dispute over the issue. The latest exchange highlights the continuing tensions between the government and opposition over education policy, examination reforms and the handling of student protests. As Parliament debates measures to address paper leaks, the issue remains a major political flashpoint ahead of further discussions on strengthening India’s examination framework.

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