The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday accused Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi of spreading "false and misleading information" after he claimed that AK-47 rifles were used against student protesters during demonstrations over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak in Bihar. The ruling party demanded that the Congress leader apologise, calling his remarks "irresponsible" and "baseless."
The controversy began after Gandhi, in a post on X, cited reports alleging that security forces used AK-47 rifles against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak. He also claimed that hundreds of protesters had been arrested and named in FIRs, while demanding accountability for the alleged police crackdown.
Responding to the allegations, BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sambit Patra strongly denied Gandhi's claims while addressing the media in the Parliament House complex.
"It is a matter of great shame that the Leader of the Opposition has shown such irresponsibility. How can Rahul Gandhi claim that AK-47 rifles were used against protesters? Police in this country have never used AK-47s in such a manner. He should apologise to the nation for spreading such falsehoods," Patra said.
Patra further alleged that Gandhi's statements were aimed at creating unrest even after the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) withdrew its protest following discussions with Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh.
"The objective is not to resolve issues but to manufacture anger, manufacture protests and create anarchy," Patra alleged, urging people not to be misled by what he described as misinformation.
The exchange unfolded as Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, staged a protest inside the Parliament House complex over the alleged police action against students demonstrating against the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. The Opposition also demanded an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the handling of the protests.
The remarks come days after nationwide demonstrations over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak, during which students marched towards Parliament demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and reforms to the examination system. After the Centre accepted key demands raised by student groups, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) called off its protest.
However, the political confrontation has continued, with the Opposition alleging excessive use of force against protesters, while the BJP has rejected those allegations and accused Rahul Gandhi of making unverified and inflammatory claims.
