Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the central government during the Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, accusing the Centre of crushing students’ voices and failing to reform India’s education system.
Priyanka also targeted the government over the police brutality against students during the July 20 “Sansad March”, while also questioning the felicitation of Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament by BJP MPs after his resignation.
Priyanka pointed out that the students and youth of the country have lost their trust in the system, urging the government to ensure that the trust is restored.
On police prutality against students during the Jantar Mantar protest
Participating in the debate, Priyanka Gandhi alleged that the government used excessive force against students during the Jantar Mantar protest and that even female protesters were harassed.
Recalling her visit to Delhi’s Ram Manohar Lohiya Hospital, she said that she met a girl student who was critically injured in the police crackdown on protesters.
“The mother of that little girl, who was fighting between life and death, said to us in a trembling voice: ‘Since morning, big people have been coming here, making videos. Even those who did this to my daughter came here. What is all this for in the end? My daughter has already been sacrificed, but no matter what happens to her, I will fight for her myself’,” Gandhi said.
She continued: “That mother’s voice is still echoing in my mind today, and that’s why I want to ask the Prime Minister and the Home Minister—what was the need for suppressing an innocent little girl? Humiliating girls and tearing their clothes? Unleashing tear gas, pellet guns, and AK-47s on students? Are these children terrorists?”
She also demanded an explanation from the government over who ordered the brutal crackdown on protesters, asserting that the “question is being asked by the entire country today.”
Targets govt over poor state of education system
The Congress MP from Wayanad said that India’s education system was plagued by numerous flaws and that students and their families were paying the price.
“Many children, under pressure, end up taking their own lives, while others slip into depression. Families are under immense pressure too, and they have to take on debt. Even then, there’s no guarantee left for a bright future for the children.”
“The country’s exam system has completely failed. In 10 years, 152 paper leaks occurred, and the lives of 7.5 crore students were toyed with, but not a single mafia has been punished. The country’s education budget is Rs 1.4 lakh crore, but in NEET, Rs 1.32 lakh crore is extracted every year from the families of 22 lakh students. Where our education budget is Rs 1.4 lakh crore, the government waives off Rs 16 lakh crore in debt for a handful of billionaires—which shows what the government’s priorities are,” she said.
Urges govt to restore students’ trust in the system
Claiming that the youth of the country have lost trust in the system, Priyanka urged the government to “step outside the boundaries” and make concrete efforts to restore their faith.
“The trust of the country’s youth in this entire system has been shattered. To restore this trust, answers cannot be found from within the system. One must step outside the boundaries of the system; concrete efforts must be made,” she said.
Slams BJP over Dharmendra Pradhan’s felicitation
She also slammed the BJP over the felicitation of Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament after his resignation over the NEET paper leak and linked suicides.
“A few days ago, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned under embarrassing circumstances. But yesterday, when he arrived at Parliament, BJP MPs welcomed him as if a superstar had arrived. While all this was happening, a family in Maharashtra was mourning the suicide of their daughter, a victim of a paper leak. What exactly is the government so proud of? Where there should have been shame in their eyes, they were being welcomed with garlands of flowers,” she said.
Targets new Education Minister Pralhad Joshi
Priyanka Gandhi also questioned the appointment of Pralhad Joshi as the new Education Minister, alleging that he had endorsed the release of the rapists of a pregnant woman.
“Amid all this, PM Modi selected a new Education Minister who had once expressed agreement with the release of the rapists of a pregnant woman. By doing this, what message has PM Modi given to the millions of girls in the country?” she added.