PM silent in Parliament, forced to protest outside his residence: Akhilesh
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) said the Opposition was “forced” to protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence as Narendra Modi
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday (July 22, 2026) said the Opposition was “forced” to protest outside the Prime Minister’s residence as Narendra Modi “refuses to speak in the House”. “If the PM can speak on the students’ issue outside Parliament, why can’t he make a statement inside the House,” Mr. Yadav asked, making an intervention when the Opposition parties pressed for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the recurring examination paper leaks and the police crackdown on student protesters. The SP chief expressed his anguish after Speaker Om Birla initially did not ask him to intervene on the issue. “Has there been a deal,” an agitated Mr. Yadav asked the Speaker, adding, “The issue is about students, not Congress, BJP or SP.
You allowed them to speak.” Also Read | Opposition using students’ protests as political tool to serve interests: Rajnath Singh Amid speculation of a friction within the Opposition, Mr. Yadav clarified that he merely wanted to place the SP’s position on the issue and that the Opposition remained united in demanding Mr. Pradhan’s resignation. “I wanted to put the SP’s viewpoint on the students’ issue, so I intervened,” he told reporters, denying any friction with Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal inside the House. Sources close to Mr. Yadav said his reference to a “deal” was aimed at the government’s alleged “understanding” with the Chair and not at the Congress. They reiterated that any discussion in Parliament should begin only after the Education Minister resigned.
Inside the House, referring to the police action against protesters, he said students were “brutally assaulted” and that the government must take responsibility. Also Read | Will end fast if Centre assures no action against protesters: Wangchuk writes to Nadda, Singh “If you don’t listen to students, they will come to the streets,” Mr. Yadav said, adding, “Women students’ clothes were torn, students were hit with lathis, they were left bleeding. Their limbs were broken. Is this the way to treat our students? Will you tear the clothes of our daughters? Is this the way to treat them?” Later, speaking to reporters within the Parliament complex, Mr. Yadav said the Opposition, students and youth were unanimous in seeking Mr. Pradhan’s resignation before any discussion.
“Our demand, along with that of the Opposition, the students and the youth, is almost the same: first, resignation, followed by a discussion,” he said, adding examination paper leaks had become a nationwide problem with more than 150 such leaks across the country including over 20 in Uttar Pradesh. Yadav alleged that the police had manhandled Opposition MPs during Tuesday’s protest. “When Rahul Gandhi, I and other MPs went there, our clothes were also pulled and torn. Since when has the police started behaving like this, especially with elected representatives,” he asked.
The BriefWire