Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (July 27, 2026) lashed out at the Modi government over allegations that AK-47 rifles were used to target protesting students in Bihar and demanded that action be taken against those who attacked the students.
Mr. Gandhi also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to the students. The central government is “dishonest” and reform is beyond its capability, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha charged.
“The entire system is downright murderous against students. Reports are coming in that AK-47s have been fired at protesting students in Bihar, and hundreds have been arrested and booked under FIRs,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post on X in Hindi.
“Modi ji, what happened to your promise that no FIRs would be filed against students and that they would be released? Instead, they are being subjected to deadly attacks and brutality,” he said.
“Pellet guns were used against students in Delhi, and AK-47s in Bihar. Whether it is Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, or Delhi — the pattern is the same everywhere,” he said.
“I have said it before: this government is dishonest. Reform is beyond its capability. It will renege on its promises and use every tactic to suppress the students’ voices,” Mr. Gandhi said.
He called on PM Modi to apologise to the country’s students and take action against those who attacked and brutalised them instead of taking action against the students.
Left-wing student organisations held demonstrations across Bihar, some of which turned violent, on Saturday (July 25) in support of a statewide bandh against NEET paper leak and police action on protesting students.
Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, alleged that police fired AK-47s at protesters during the protest in Siwan.
During the Cockroach Janta Party-led ‘Sansad Chalo’ march in Delhi on July 20 to protest against the NEET paper leak, police and security forces used batons and tear gas to disperse protesters, which largely included students.
Scores of protesters and police personnel were injured in the protest.
BJP alleges Rahul trying to ‘manufacture protest’ with ‘false’ AK-47 claim
The BJP on Monday (July 27, 2026) accused Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of trying to “manufacture a protest” and create an atmosphere of anarchy by alleging that AK-47 rifles were used against agitating students in Bihar, and demanded that he apologise for spreading “canards and falsity”.
The ruling party termed Mr. Gandhi’s statement “not only deeply unfortunate, but a sin”.
BJP national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sambit Patra said it is “a matter of great shame” that the Leader of the Opposition has shown “a great deal of irresponsibility”.
“While he posted on X and spoke about police using AK-47s on student protesters, it is absolutely condemnable that such falsity is spread by a person who occupies the post of Leader of the Opposition in India,” Mr. Patra told reporters in the Parliament House complex.
Demanding that Mr. Gandhi apologise, Mr. Patra said, “They are trying to spread canards. AK-47 — I am emphasising this word used by Rahul Gandhi. Does the police in this country ever use AK-47s to fire on protesters? Has it ever happened? “How can Rahul Gandhi say that AK-47s have been used? This is totally unacceptable, and we firmly believe that Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation for spreading such canards and falsity.” Referring to the Cockroach Janata Party calling off its protest after talks with Union ministers J.P. Nadda and Jitendra Singh, Mr. Patra alleged that Mr. Gandhi is now trying to create panic and an atmosphere of anarchy in the country.
“You all saw how the CJP itself called off the protest. Discussions took place with J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, following which it was announced that the protest at Jantar Mantar had been concluded.
“By making such propaganda and spreading such misinformation, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party want to create panic, disorder and an atmosphere of anarchy across the country. This is highly objectionable,” he said.
Mr. Patra appealed to people not to take Mr. Gandhi’s statement seriously and instead “present the truth so that anarchy is not spread in the country”.
“I would also tell Rahul Gandhi that he should behave like a responsible Leader of the Opposition and apologise to the nation for spreading such misleading claims,” he said.
“Naturally, solving (issues) is not the purpose of Rahul Gandhi. Trying to create furore, trying to create manufactured anger, trying to manufacture a protest, and above all trying to create anarchy, is the sole aim of Rahul Gandhi and the LoP,” Mr. Patra alleged.
Published – July 27, 2026 12:18 pm IST
