K C Venugopal, the Congress General Secretary, expressed his disapproval of the Delhi Police’s actions against student protestors, indicating that the ruling government may face public backlash for its handling of the situation. Venugopal’s comments followed the police’s use of force to prevent students from marching towards Parliament on the opening day of the Monsoon Session on July 20, 2026. He described the government’s approach as an indication of its disconnect from the growing discontent among the youth.

In a post on X, Venugopal described the police’s efforts as unacceptable and undemocratic, labelling them as a display of the government’s frantic response to public dissent. He called upon the government to listen to the grievances of students and expressed that the protest movement would gain momentum if their concerns continued to be ignored.

Venugopal warned that a government that neglects the pain of its citizens will ultimately face consequences. He viewed the current protests as a precursor to a larger movement against the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stressing that the dissatisfaction among the youth is growing and could lead to significant political repercussions.

Rahul Gandhi’s Critique of the Government

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, echoed Venugopal’s sentiments in his critique of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, branding him the most ‘youth-hostile Prime Minister’ in Indian history. Gandhi highlighted the issue of repeated paper leaks affecting approximately 7.5 crore students and condemned the government’s inaction regarding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Gandhi articulated that despite the numerous paper leaks, which resulted in substantial distress for students, there has been a lack of accountability for those responsible. In his posts, he expressed outrage over the treatment of protesting students who were met with force instead of dialogue. He called for the government to acknowledge and address their legitimate demands for a reliable education system.

The Congress leader asserted that the government’s efforts to quell the protests via force are indicative of a broader trend of dismissing the needs and rights of young people. He stated that the students demanding a just and functional education system should not be viewed as offenders but as legitimate participants seeking change.

Police Response and Ongoing Protests

As the protests continued, the Delhi Police reported injuries among over fifty personnel, including those from paramilitary forces, during the clashes with demonstrators. The police announced that they would investigate the violence, identifying individuals involved through video footage collected during the events. Efforts were made to ensure that public order was maintained while addressing the underlying issues that incited the protests.

The police urged protesters to conduct themselves peacefully and to refrain from violent actions. They advised the public to rely on authenticated information sources, avoiding rumours that could exacerbate tensions. The response from law enforcement reflected an ongoing effort to balance maintaining public safety while addressing the students’ grievances.

A delegation from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) engaged in talks with the Union Health Minister to present their demands, including the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for families affected by the NEET exam leaks. The dialogue aimed to resolve the escalating tensions and pave the way for a peaceful resolution to the protests.

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