Rahul Gandhi has demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students after police action against protesters during a march to Parliament over the alleged exam paper leak controversy. He also sought Home Minister Amit Shah’s resignation, saying the responsibility for policing in the capital ultimately rests with the Centre.

The demand followed a tense 48 hours in Delhi: a student march broken up near Parliament, opposition leaders staging a sit-in outside the Prime Minister’s residence, and Congress MPs being removed from the protest site. For students at the centre of this fight, the core question is still simple: will any of this actually fix how India’s biggest exams are run?

What Happened At The Chalo Sansad March

On July 20, 2026, thousands of protesters marched from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament as part of the CJP protest over alleged exam irregularities and paper leaks. The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party has been demanding exam reforms and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The march escalated after protesters tried to move past security barricades. Delhi Police said its personnel were attacked and that 118 police and security staff were injured. Reuters reported nearly 180 injuries in total, including 118 security personnel and about 60 protesters, while noting that it could not independently verify the injury numbers.

Protesters and CJP leaders gave a different account, alleging excessive force. A claim by CJP spokesperson Saurav Das that pellet guns were used was denied by the police, which called the allegation “completely false and misleading,” according to TOI.

A young woman injured during the protest was reported to be in ICU, while several other injured students were discharged from hospitals by Tuesday morning, according to NDTV. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who was fasting in support of the students, was not simply discharged from Safdarjung; he was later shifted to Medanta after a High Court order allowed transfer to the hospital of his choice.

Rahul’s Sit-In Outside PM Modi’s Residence

A day later, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge and other opposition leaders staged a sit-in near the Prime Minister’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Hindustan Times reported that the Congress leader asked Modi to apologise to students over what he called police brutality during the protest.

He said the Prime Minister could not avoid answers this time and demanded accountability from the government. He also sought Shah’s resignation, arguing that the home ministry bears responsibility for the force used in Delhi.

The protest outside the PM’s residence added a clear political layer to what began as a student-led agitation. By evening, several opposition leaders had been removed or briefly detained, turning the exam row into a direct confrontation between the Congress and the Modi government.

Government Hits Back

The government accused the Opposition of using student anger for politics. Union Minister Jitendra Singh met the protesting leaders and said the government was ready to discuss the issue in Parliament, but accused Congress of seeking confrontation instead of debate.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also pushed back, accusing Congress of exploiting students during the Monsoon Session. The BJP’s argument is that arrests have been made, a re-test has been conducted and the government is ready for discussion.

But protesters say that does not go far enough. They want resignations, compensation for affected families and stronger guarantees that future exams will not be compromised.

The Real Question: Will The Exam System Change?

Strip away the political theatre, and the underlying grievance remains the same. Students are not only angry about one leak. They are questioning the fairness and credibility of the wider education system.

That concern is not limited to Delhi. The education system in india has already faced repeated questions over paper leaks, delayed accountability and the pressure placed on young aspirants. For families who spend years preparing children for competitive exams, a leak is not a technical error. It is a breach of trust.

Parliament’s Monsoon Session is still underway, and both sides say they want the issue debated. The government says it is ready for discussion. The Opposition says the debate must include accountability for the crackdown and the exam failure.

For now, the fight remains split between the street and Parliament. Whether it produces a real reform plan, or only another round of blame, will decide what students actually gain from this week’s protests.