Published Jul 23, 2026 | 4:40 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 23, 2026 | 4:40 PM
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi
Synopsis: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised sections of the media for amplifying the Centre’s narrative on the ongoing student protests, as Parliament remained paralysed for a fourth consecutive day. She urged the media to question the government over the police action against student protesters, the invocation of the National Security Act and why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not yet resigned.
As the Monsoon Session of Parliament remained paralysed for the fourth straight day on Thursday, 23 July, amid escalating friction between opposition parties and the NDA government over the student protests, senior Congress leader and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took strong exception to sections of the media amplifying the Centre’s narrative instead of holding it accountable for the NEET paper leak controversy and the Delhi Police’s brutality against student protesters.
As she was leaving the Parliament premises after repeated adjournments, with protests by the opposition and counterprotests by the ruling NDA crippling proceedings in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, Gandhi was asked by reporters from the wire services IANS, ANI and PTI why Parliament was not functioning.
“I’ll answer only those questions that are relevant. You are involved in this government’s narrative. You always ask only the questions that this government wants you to ask. Every time. Ask them instead. Their ministers keep coming and going, don’t they?” she shot back.
“The Prime Minister hasn’t even come to Parliament. Such a huge movement is going on. The youth of the entire country are out on the streets. The Prime Minister hasn’t come to Parliament, and you’re asking me why Parliament isn’t functioning?”
VIDEO | Parliament Monsoon Session: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, says, “You always ask the questions that this government wants you to ask. Why don’t you put these questions to the government instead? Ministers are coming out and speaking, but the Prime Minister has not… pic.twitter.com/Ki0Q1qbxan
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 23, 2026
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Gandhi, in a separate interaction with reporters, alleged that the government was not allowing Parliament to function, accusing Modi of being a “weak and cowardly Prime Minister”.
“Have you ever seen in the history of democracy that MPs from the ruling party are standing outside protesting? This has been going on for the last several parliamentary sessions. The government is not allowing Parliament to function. Narendra Modi is a weak and cowardly Prime Minister,” she told reporters.
“The Prime Minister, who takes credit for every Indian’s achievement, who even takes credit for India reaching Mars, why isn’t he taking responsibility for the paper leaks?”
Gandhi urged the media to instead hold the government accountable and ask why it had allowed the Delhi Police, which falls under the Union Home Ministry, to assault young protesters, and why Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had yet to resign.
“These ministers who keep coming and going—ask them when they’re going to resign. Have you asked them? I want to know. Have you asked Dharmendra Pradhan when he’s going to resign? No, no—tell me. Have you asked or not? Answer me: yes or no. Don’t give a vague answer. No beating around the bush. No evasive answers,” she said.
“Have you asked [Home Minister] Amit Shah why the police lathi-charged students? Have you asked Amit Shah why young children are in hospitals? Why, when they were protesting outside, their parents couldn’t even call them because you shut down the internet? The NSA has been invoked [against protesters]. For what? Are they terrorists? Have you asked that?
“So when you start asking them those questions, then I’ll answer your questions.”
Also Read: ‘Will fix you with drugs if you head back’: Mumbai cop’s threat to protesters goes viral
The ruling BJP-led NDA staged protests in Parliament, accusing the Opposition of trying to inflame the youth. MPs raised the slogan, “Yuvakon ko mat bhadkao, Rahul Gandhi hosh me aao.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of imposing “preconditions” and trying to avoid a debate on the NEET paper leak issue.
Opposition MPs, meanwhile, continued to demand a discussion on the NEET paper leak and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Nearly a month after the protests began, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued his first public comments on the issue earlier in the day, saying the government would establish fast-track courts to ensure “swift and stringent punishment” in paper leak cases. However, he was not present in Parliament for the discussion the NDA had promised to hold.
Separately, an order issued earlier by the Delhi Lieutenant Governor allowing for preventive detention under the National Security Act (NSA), 1980, has come to light. The order authorises the Delhi Police Commissioner to invoke the Act for a period of three months, from 19 July to 18 October.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
