Indian opposition bloc to join debate on exam leak bill, keep pressure on Amit Shah

INDIA bloc leaders discuss strategy after student protests end; parties to raise concerns during debate on Public Examinations Amendment Bill

Published: July 27, 2026 10:24 pm IST | New Delhi

By Sobhana K. Nair

On the first day of Parliament after student protests were called off, the Opposition signalled that it would continue to target Home Minister Amit Shah over the police use of pellet guns and excessive force against protesting students. However, differences emerged during the INDIA bloc meeting on Monday over whether to disrupt or participate in the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026. The matter was later resolved, with parties agreeing to present their point of view.

Also read: Government tables Bill on paper leaks; Parliament to debate it on July 28

Key Developments from the INDIA Bloc Meeting

• Ram Temple donation theft case: Samajwadi Party sources said the Opposition should demand a debate on this issue. SP chief whip Dharmendra Yadav argued during the meeting that the matter should not be allowed to be buried. However, a significant section of Opposition leaders believed the focus should remain on policy issues such as education, warning that wading into the Ram Temple issue could invite counterattacks and communalise the narrative.

• Police brutality concerns: Opposition leaders shared details of alleged police brutalities in their respective states, including an incident involving the use of AK-47 rifles by police in Bihar. It was decided that these instances must be highlighted during the debate on the legislation, commonly referred to as the "paper leak Bill."

• Parliamentary strategy: The Opposition resolved to coordinate not only on the floor of Parliament but also on agitations beyond parliamentary premises.

Opposition Stance on the Paper Leak Bill

Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP N.K. Premachandran pushed for Opposition participation in the debate and explained the technicalities of the Bill to the gathering. Speaking to The Hindu, he said:

"This Bill is an eyewash. Beyond increasing the fine and the jail term, it introduces no substantive changes. In fact, the Centre has inserted provisions that effectively reduce States to spectators, including a clause enabling the creation of a task force to investigate paper leaks that reports exclusively to the Union government."

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) — which has been skipping INDIA bloc meetings since the Congress walked out of the alliance in Tamil Nadu — expressed a similar opinion. Senior DMK leader and Rajya Sabha floor leader Tiruchi Siva stated:

"There is already an Act in place. I would like to know what action has been taken so far under the existing Act. Amending the law, increasing the fine or jail term is not a solution. The DMK's firm stance is that NEET has to be scrapped."

He added that the DMK would participate in the debate and fight it out on the floor of Parliament.

Parliamentary Schedule

Seven hours have been allotted for the debate on this Bill in both Houses.

Also read: Centre proposes Bill to strengthen anti-cheating law in bid to curb exam malpractices