24 July,2026 03:27 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi, on Friday. PIC/PTI
Congress Member of Parliament (MP) Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Opposition would not hold any discussions with the government until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns, taking responsibility for the alleged exam paper leaks, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologises for the alleged police action against protesting students in Delhi.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament House complex, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also alleged that he was not allowed to speak in the House after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju referred to him during the proceedings.
"(Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren) Rijiju ji made a statement in Lok Sabha asking Congress MPs to start a discussion. Whenever someone is named, it is normal to ask the person to respond. However, when I rose to reply to Rijiju, I was not allowed to speak, and my mike was shut," Gandhi said.
The remarks come amid a continuing standoff between the Opposition and the Centre over the alleged exam paper leaks, the student protest led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and the alleged police crackdown on demonstrators in the national capital.
Outlining the Opposition's stand, Gandhi said the protesting students had three key demands that must be addressed before any dialogue with the government could take place.
"I wanted to present the opposition's stand clearly. The students have three demands - corrupt Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has to go; those who beat up students must face action; and the prime minister should apologise to the students.
"These are the three conditions. We are not going to have any conversation, any discussion before Mr Pradhan is sacked," Gandhi said.
The Congress has been demanding accountability from the Centre over the alleged examination irregularities and has accused the government of using excessive force against students participating in the protests.
The Congress on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video message on the alleged exam paper leaks, saying he should address the issue on the floor of Parliament instead of delivering what it described as a "one-sided Mann Ki Baat" while the House is in session.
The Opposition party also claimed that the "desperate and hassled-looking" Prime Minister had finally broken his silence on the issue through a video message but failed to address the ongoing student protests or the alleged police action against demonstrators.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also criticised Modi for not addressing the Opposition's demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation in the video message, which was released shortly before midnight on Thursday.
In a post on X in the early hours of Friday, Gandhi urged the Prime Minister not to "insult the intelligence" of students.
"Mr Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Don't insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video.
"1. Sack Pradhan. 2. Punish those who beat students. 3. Apologise," the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
On Thursday night, Modi announced in a video message that the government would introduce a Bill in Parliament next week containing provisions for stringent action against exam paper leaks.
He also said the proposed legislation would be discussed at a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Friday before being finalised.
(With PTI inputs)
