Parliament Monsoon Session: The Lok Sabha witnessed stormy exchange between the opposition and treasury benches after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s use of the word “idiot” during a speech on the anti-paper
leak bill and his subsequent allegations against Union Home Minister Amit Shah drew sharp objections from the treasury benches.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju repeatedly intervened during Rahul Gandhi’s speech, calling his remarks “unparliamentary” and later demanding that he either substantiate or withdraw his allegations against the Union Home Minister.
Follow LIVE Updates
‘Idiot’ Remark Sparks Objections
While participating in the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, the Lok Sabha LoP narrated what he described as a conversation with a student about education and truth.
“The question I asked the girl was that you said you were a student — what does that mean? Does it mean you study in a college, in a school, you read books? “She said a student is someone who has an open mind (and) an open heart. A student is someone who accepts that he does not know everything. Whatever he knows will be superseded by new knowledge. He knows the universe is dynamic. He also understands that knowledge is constantly changing. The most important quality, she said, that a student has is humility,” he said.
Gandhi said the student also described another category of people who believed they knew everything.
“They are absolutely convinced that they know everything. They believe that the universe is static and they believe that knowledge emerges from inside them. They are arrogant. They don’t listen, they don’t respect other people’s truth. She said I call them idiots,” the leader of opposition (LoP) said.
Read More: ‘Show Home Minister’s Order’: BJP Rips Into Rahul Gandhi For Targeting Amit Shah, Seeks Apology
He said the framework came from an 18-year-old student and argued that the protests, though centred around examinations, reflected wider concerns about the education system.
The remarks prompted immediate protests from BJP MPs, with Rijiju intervening to object to the repeated use of the word.
“Had Rahul Gandhi not used unparliamentary word, nobody would have objected. I believe that he is using a word in the name of a student, but it is he who is using it…He cannot use unparliamentary word, it should be expunged,” Rijiju said, adding later that the Congress leader was “using the same word again and again.”
VIDEO | Parliament Monsoon Session: Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju objects to ‘unparliamentary words’ being used by Congress MP Rahul Gandhi during his speech. #RahulGandhi #ParliamentMonsoonSession
(Source: Sansad TV)
(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/27Uun3hRfF
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 29, 2026
He later sought to clarify that he was not referring to any individual.
“I am not calling anybody that. I will use some other word,” he said, adding later, “I have not used that word for anybody. I just said that this category also exists.”
Continuing his speech, Gandhi quoted the student as saying, “A true student wears the truth on his or her chest. Other people need an image. Since that idiot is trying to pretend he is God, he has to create a massive image for himself,” prompting slganeering from the treasury benches.
Rahul Gandhi Targets Amit Shah
Contiuing his attack on the Central Government, the Congress leader questioned the absence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah from the House and accused him of being responsible for the police action during student protests.
“The Home Minister doesn’t have the courage to sit here because he is scared,” Gandhi said.
He then alleged that Amit Shah had “authorised” and “ordered” the firing on student protesters.
“The Home Minister authorised the shooting at our students. He ordered the shooting at our students,” Rahul Gandhi alleged.
VIDEO | Parliament Session: Speaking in Lok Sabha, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, says, “I am very happy today to see that he so called Home Minister of this country does not have the courage to come and sit here… why is the Home Minister not here today? The Home Minister is not… pic.twitter.com/PCMWyqJVrU
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 29, 2026
The remarks triggered an immediate uproar, with treasury bench members raising slogans and demanding that Gandhi withdraw his statement.
Rijiju Calls Allegations Baseless, Demands Apology
Objecting strongly, Rijiju questioned the basis of Rahul Gandhi’s allegations and termed them a serious breach of parliamentary privilege.
“How can you make such serious allegations against the Home Minister?” Rijiju asked.
Calling the charge “baseless”, he argued that such an order could not have been authorised by anyone else and challenged Rahul Gandhi to produce evidence.
Read More:‘Protests Were Deep Expression Of India’s Youth’: Rahul Gandhi Debates Anti-Paper Leaks Law In Lok Sabha
“On what basis have you made the charge that the Home Minister ordered firing? This is a breach of the privilege given to the Leader of Opposition,” Rijiju said.
He further pressed the Congress leader to back up his claim.
“Please show the order of the Home Minister. Rahul Gandhi should tell us which officer told this to him,” Rijiju said.
Maintaining that the allegation was without evidence, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister insisted that Rahul Gandhi either substantiate his claim or withdraw it.
“The Leader of Opposition must tell us the basis of his charge or apologise. We will not allow baseless allegations against the Home Minister. You have to apologise, otherwise there can be no discussion,” Rijiju said.
Akhilesh Yadav Intervenes
As treasury MPs demanded an apology, opposition members protested that Rahul Gandhi should be allowed to complete his speech.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also intervened, saying that if the Leader of Opposition had made a serious allegation, it was for the government to clarify the matter.
“If the Leader of Opposition has made an allegation, then the government has to answer who ordered the firing,” Akhilesh said.
Om Birla Pulls Up Rahul Gandhi
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stepped in and cautioned Rahul Gandhi against making allegations without following parliamentary procedure.
“No one in Parliament can level charges against anyone without giving prior notice,” Birla said.
Reminding members of the importance of parliamentary records, the Speaker added, “Whatever is spoken in Parliament remains on record. Therefore, speak on the Bill and stick to facts.”
Defending his remarks, Rahul Gandhi maintained that responsibility for the use of force ultimately rested with the highest levels of the government.
“The use of force can only be authorised by the Home Minister or the Prime Minister,” Gandhi said.
Birla subsequently asked the Leader of Opposition to conclude his speech as slogan-shouting continued from both treasury and opposition benches.
