Devendra Fadnavis Hits Out at Rahul Gandhi Over Amit Shah Remarks, Says Allegations Won’t Help Youth
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday, July 29, criticised Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his remarks targeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in connection with alleged police action during the July 20 student protests. Fadnavis accused Gandhi of making allegations without offering solutions for the welfare of India’s youth.
Fadnavis Criticises Rahul Gandhi’s Remarks
Fadnavis said opposition leaders should raise issues when they believe something is wrong, but argued that criticism should also be accompanied by constructive proposals. He questioned what Gandhi had proposed for the welfare of young people.
“Simply spouting falsehoods and making allegations all day long won’t yield anything for the nation’s youth.”
Fadnavis also alleged that Gandhi’s “single agenda” was to create “anarchy” and claimed that the Congress leader was not focused on the country’s interests.
The Maharashtra chief minister’s comments came after Gandhi alleged that Amit Shah was either “culpable or incompetent” over the alleged police action during the student protests and said the Union home minister should explain his role in Parliament.
Fadnavis Backs Examination Reform Bill
Fadnavis said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had focused on issues concerning the country’s youth and referred to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, as an example of the government’s efforts to strengthen the examination system.
The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. It proposes tougher punishment for people who use unfair means in public examinations.
Under the proposed changes, the minimum imprisonment term would increase from three years to five years, while the maximum punishment would rise from five years to 10 years.
“I am confident that once this bill is passed, this new system will usher in a highly secure examination process and serve the welfare of our youth.”
Fadnavis Says July 20 Protest Cases Will Be Withdrawn
Fadnavis also addressed cases registered in connection with the July 20 student protest march over the NEET paper leak in Maharashtra. He said the police had handled the demonstration with restraint and described the cases as being of a “very minor nature”.
According to Fadnavis, he discussed the matter with the Home Department and the state Director General of Police before issuing instructions to withdraw the cases.
“Our police handled the entire protest with great restraint. The cases that were registered were of a very minor nature.”
BJP’s Sambit Patra Rejects Rahul Gandhi’s Firing Allegation
Earlier on Wednesday, BJP MP and national spokesperson Sambit Patra rejected Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that shots were fired at students during the July 20 protest.
Patra said there was no firing and denied that anyone had issued an order to shoot at the protesters. He also rejected Gandhi’s allegation that Amit Shah had ordered firing, arguing that the claim could not be true if no shots were fired.
“No shots were fired, and no one gave any such order.”
Patra further said that whenever firing takes place, the decision is taken by a magistrate. His remarks were part of the BJP’s response to Gandhi’s allegations regarding the handling of the student protests.
Jitendra Singh Also Targets Rahul Gandhi
Union Minister Jitendra Singh also criticised Rahul Gandhi during his reply to the Lok Sabha debate on the anti-paper leak legislation. Singh questioned whether the Congress leader was aware of basic parliamentary norms and alleged that Gandhi had used unparliamentary language.
The exchange between the ruling BJP and the opposition comes amid debate over the handling of student protests, alleged police action and proposed changes to the law governing unfair practices in public examinations.
Source: ANI
