Amit Shah Offers Parliament Debate; Rahul Gandhi Declines Offer

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday offered to hold a 24-hour debate in Parliament on student protests related to the NEET issue, stating he was ready to answer all questions.

Shah proposed the discussion begin at 3 p.m. on Wednesday and conclude by 3 p.m. on Thursday, provided the Opposition submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by 2 p.m. He also pushed back against Opposition claims of his absence, stating he had been attending Parliament regularly but that disruptions prevented proceedings. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, however, dismissed the offer, stating the Opposition was not interested in Shah's lecture and sought accountability for alleged police action against students.

Gandhi questioned who ordered the lathicharge and demanded Shah's resignation if he gave the order. The parliamentary monsoon session has been largely disrupted for two weeks over the Opposition's demand for Shah's statement on alleged police excesses during a July 20 student march. Shah cited parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju's earlier statement that the government was ready for a discussion and noted that the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, was discussed without opposition MPs raising concerns about NEET. Kangana Ranaut also criticized Gandhi's stance, accusing him of mocking the country and questioning his approach to seeking answers while refusing to listen.