Congress to Hold Protest Against Amit Shah During His Visit to Pune on August 1 To Condemn Police Action Against Student Protestors
Pune, 28th July 2026: Congress party has announced that it will hold protest against Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his Pune visit on August 1, alleging police excesses against students protesting the alleged NEET paper leak and demanding accountability from the Centre.
In a statement issued on Monday, Pune City (East) Congress president and former mayor Prashant Jagtap alleged that more than 23 students across the country died by suicide following the alleged NEET examination paper leak. He claimed that students who staged protests demanding the resignation of the Union education minister were met with excessive police force under the directions of the Union home ministry.
The statement alleged that police used lathis, tear gas, pellet guns and other force against protesters, leaving several students seriously injured. It also claimed that some protesters suffered permanent injuries and accused the police of misconduct against women participants during the demonstrations.
Jagtap further alleged that, despite assurances given after the protests, authorities later registered false cases against protesters, detained them and harassed their family members.
Against this backdrop, the Congress has called for a protest during Shah’s visit to Pune on August 1, when he is scheduled to attend the Lokmanya Tilak Award ceremony. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is scheduled to get an award at the event and according to the organisers Home Minister will present it. The protest has been planned at Seven Loves Chowk on Shankarsheth Road at 10.30 am, along Shah’s proposed route.
Jagtap appealed to Pune residents, students and youth to participate in large numbers, saying the demonstration would register opposition to what he described as the Centre’s “authoritarian approach” and the alleged police action against students.
The allegations made in the statement are those of the Congress party. There has been no immediate response from the Union home ministry regarding these claims.
