Indian Opposition Slams BJP Over Student Deaths and Minister's Welcome

In late July 2026, opposition parties in India, including Congress and the Samajwadi Party, sharply criticized the ruling BJP after 21 students died in what appears to be a police action in Punjab. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other opposition figures attacked the BJP for giving a grand welcome to Dharmendra Pradhan, a Union minister, shortly after the deaths, with Gandhi saying the event celebrated the destruction of children's futures. The criticism also targeted the BJP's handling of the incident, including alleged police excess and the use of pellet guns, which the Chief Justice of India commented on, noting that such actions were unacceptable.