Opposition MPs led by Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra marched in black on Wednesday, Aug. 5, demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah [1].
The protest signals a deepening rift between the ruling government and the opposition over allegations of state violence and systemic corruption in the education sector. By targeting both the Home and Education ministries, the opposition is attempting to link police actions with administrative failures.
The march began at the Gandhi statue at Prerna Sthal and proceeded to the Makar Dwar entrance of Parliament [1]. Other gatherings were reported outside the Parliament building and near the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi [1]. Participating leaders included Mallikarjun Kharge and Syed Naseer Hussain.
Rahul Gandhi said Amit Shah ordered pellets to be fired against students protesting over the paper leak [1]. This refers to an incident on July 20, 2026, where police allegedly used pellet firing against student demonstrators [2]. The opposition is also demanding a full investigation into a suspected NEET paper leak, which they said the government is attempting to cover up [3].
Beyond the student crackdown, the protest targeted the alleged embezzlement of donations intended for the Ayodhya Ram-Mandir [2]. The opposition is seeking a formal statement from Amit Shah regarding these funds and the police actions [2].
Mallikarjun Kharge said the Home Minister's absence from Parliament is a disgrace and that he must answer to the nation [2]. Syed Naseer Hussain said the group would wear black to protest the police action and demand an overhaul of the education system [3].
In addition to the Home Minister, protesters called for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan [1]. The coordinated effort across multiple sites in the capital underscores the opposition's strategy to maintain public pressure on the administration's handling of student unrest and public trust [1].
“"Amit Shah ordered pellets to be fired against students protesting over the paper leak."”
This mobilization represents a multi-pronged attack on the government's credibility, combining grievances over civil liberties, academic integrity, and religious fundraising. By centering the protest on the Home Minister, the opposition is framing the issue not as a series of isolated administrative errors, but as a systemic failure of internal security and governance.
