By Dr. Gyan Pathak
Even after Centre’s assurances of July 25 that cases would be withdrawn and no protester would be targeted, things have been moving in a way that has prompted the CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke to warn, “If harassment of students at the hands of police continues, CJP will respond with a massive peaceful protest soon. Government must stop targeting and witchhunting students.”
CJP has said that it was yet to receive the written agreement promised by the centre on “withdrawal of cases and no protester would be targeted” even as the deadline expired on Tuesday, July 28. On the same day the Supreme Court of India in its interim order had asked the government to immediately released under 18 protesters, and those against whom there were no criminal cases registered earlier. Supreme Court has also permitted investigations against the FIRs already registered. CJP fears that the BJP led Centre and the states can weaponised the Supreme Court order against students.
What happened in the Rajya Sabha on July 29, has come only to worsen the fear among the CJP activists and other volunteers who were subjected to brutality unleashed by the police force during their agitation. Union Minister, J P Nadda, who had played active part in the negotiation with the protesting students, has defended the police crackdown on protesting students, adding that activists being detained is normal.
“The police has acted according to the situation. Even I have been arrested when I was student. I went to jail during the Emergency. Any protesting student activist knows what he/she is in for,” Mr. Nadda said. His statement has been interpreted as the government has no remorse on unleashing “brutality against peaceful CJP protester students”.
Nadda said it in response to Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge’s allegations that democracy under BJP was not safe and those who were responsible for using brutal force against student protesters were still roaming freely. Nadda said that the police were justified in taking all necessary steps to bring law-and-order situation under control.
CPI(M) MP John Brittas has raised an incident in which Delhi Police had barged into the party’s national headquarters to arrest a student leader whose only “mistake” was participating in Jantar Mantar protest. He said when he intervened, police said there was a case registered against her in 2021 in connection with a protest on JNU campus. Brittas had demanded answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The opposition has been demanding accountability from the Union Home Minister and his statement in the House along with an apology from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on brutality on students during their protest March to Parliament on July 20. Rajya Sabha could not function since, and the House has been witnessing adjournment. Even today, the 8th day of the Monsoon session, the Rajya Sabha had to be adjourned till 12 PM after the Opposition MPs started massive protest on what Nadda said. As soon as the House resumed at 12, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury asked, “Where is the Home Minister? Call him here. You fire at students”. The Opposition then resorted to sloganeering demanded Home Minister Shah to come and make a statement. Vice President and Chair C P Radhakrishnan had no option but to adjourn the House till 2 PM.
Lok Sabha also witnessed disruption when it commenced proceedings for the day at 11 AM. Opposition was demanding the Home Minister’s statement on the police crackdown on students. Speaker Om Birla had to adjourn the proceeding till 12 PM.
Lok Sabha had been discussing the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 yesterday July 28, and the discussions continues even today amidst disruptions. The House resumed at 12 PM, and Speaker Om Birla urged the protesting opposition MPs to let the House function. Discussion on the Bill continued.
Bihar MP Pappu Yadav said that none of the institutions in the country including NTA (that conducts competitive examinations), the CBI, or the ED are accountable anymore. He said that paper leak issue should be taken very seriously. “This is the future of the country we are talking about.”
Kerala MP N.K. Premachandran said if Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as the Education Minister, then who is responsible for all the atrocities and brutalities that happened against the protesting students, adding “The police acted brutally against the protesting students in Delhi. The government of India is responsible for the paper leaks, and the corruption that is involved in the issue.”
Congress leader and the LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi lauded protesting students saying that future of the country is secure because of them. The education system is very expensive in India. MP’s of the running party disrupted his speech alleging him of using an unparliamentary word “idiot” seemingly referring to the ruling party and PM Modi. Rahul Gandhi on the other hand said he never referred to anyone specifically with the word.
Gandhi continued, “The RSS runs the Education Ministry. The students are not allowed to be students in India. They are not allowed to say what they want, or ask questions.” He said that they are made to buy the nonsensical history the RSS sells. Every major educational institution in India has an RSS worker heading it, and the education system in India is extorting money from poor.
LoP Rahul asked, “Where is the Home Minister? The Home Minister authorised the shooting of students. The Home Minister ordered that the students of the country be shot.”
MPs from the ruling establishment protested Gandhi’s remarks, and demanded apology from him. However, Rahul insisted that use of force against anyone can only be authorised by the Home Minister and the Prime Minister. Speaker Om Birla said that he cannot let Rahul speak unless he maintains Parliamentary dignity. Thereafter, he adjourned the House till 2:30 PM. Lok Sabha was again adjourned till 3 PM, and when resumed LoP Rahul continued his speech targeting Amit Shah.
Nevertheless, Union Minister Jitendra Singh explained the clauses of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026’ which was later passed in Lok Sabha through a voice vote. House was then adjourned around 3:25 for the day.
Rajya Sabha resumed at 2 PM, but opposition insisted on Home Minister Shah’s presence. Nevertheless, the Houses started discussion on National Honour (Amendment) Bill that proposes to criminalise insult of “Vande Mataram”. Opposition members then walked out. Rajya Sabah passed the Bill around 3:40, and then the House adjourned for the day. (IPA Service)
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