‘Who Ordered Pellet Guns Against Students?’: Priyanka Gandhi Questions Government

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday demanded accountability from the government over the alleged use of pellet guns and AK-47s against students protesting examination irregularities, saying the nation and parents of the injured wanted to know who authorised the action.

Speaking during the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha, Priyanka Gandhi said that students were disillusioned, as money had overshadowed merit, and called for urgent reforms to restore confidence in the examination system.

Referring to the alleged NEET paper leak, Priyanka Gandhi said students had only sought accountability and the removal of those responsible for examination irregularities but instead faced force. She also recounted the anger and frustration of the mother of a student injured during the protests, saying the woman had vowed to continue her fight without seeking anyone’s help.

Priyanka Gandhi questioned the government’s decision to use force against students, asking why the protests saw the use of pellet guns and AK-47s and who had approved their use.

The Congress leader alleged that the examination system had failed, claiming that 152 paper leaks over the past decade had affected more than 750 crore students while the examination mafia escaped punishment. She also accused the government of weakening sectors capable of generating employment.

Wayanad MP said restoring the faith of young people in the system would require decisive action and argued that public relations efforts or attempts to change the narrative would not succeed. She also expressed concern over the welcome accorded to former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament shortly after his resignation.

Earlier in the debate, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the recent student movement over examination irregularities had compelled the Centre to accept several demands.