The political dispute over the government's handling of the July 20 student protest linked to the alleged NEET paper leak continued on Wednesday, with the Centre strongly rejecting the Opposition's allegations. Union Minister Jitendra Singh responded to criticism raised by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and defended the government's stand on the incident. He said the claims made by the Opposition were incorrect and clarified the legal process related to the use of force during law-and-order situations.

Speaking to the media, Singh said the authority to order firing does not lie with a minister. He stressed that only a magistrate has the legal power to issue such an order. Responding directly to Rahul Gandhi's allegations, Singh said, "The order to open fire can only be given by a magistrate, not a minister. Rahul Gandhi lacks experience in public life."

The minister used this statement to counter the Opposition's criticism of the government's response during the July 20 protest. The remarks came after Rahul Gandhi questioned the administration's actions during the student demonstrations linked to the alleged NEET paper leak. The issue has turned into a political flashpoint, with both the ruling party and the Opposition presenting different versions of the events.

Jitendra Singh also rejected allegations that the administration had authorised firing during the protest. He said no such incident had taken place and dismissed the claims as baseless. Clarifying the government's position, Singh stated, "No firing took place at all. So the question of issuing an order to open fire does not arise."

The minister maintained that the allegations did not match the facts of the incident. He reiterated that there was no firing during the protest, making it clear that there was no need for any order to open fire. Through his remarks, Singh attempted to address the controversy surrounding the government's handling of the law-and-order situation on July 20.

The exchange has added to the growing political debate over the alleged NEET paper leak and the protests that followed. Student demonstrations gained national attention after large groups gathered to demand accountability and reforms in the examination system. The July 20 protest became one of the most discussed developments in the ongoing agitation, drawing sharp reactions from political parties across the country.

The Opposition has continued to question the government's handling of the protest and has criticised the administration over its response. Rahul Gandhi's remarks formed part of this broader criticism, with the Congress targeting the Centre over the events of July 20. The ruling party, however, has firmly denied the allegations and has defended the actions taken by the administration.

The Centre has maintained that no firing incident occurred during the protest. Government leaders have repeatedly stated that reports suggesting otherwise are incorrect. Jitendra Singh's remarks reinforced the government's position and rejected the Opposition's allegations in clear terms.

The Centre has also accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation about the incident. According to the government, claims related to firing have no factual basis. It has continued to assert that the administration acted within the framework of the law while dealing with the situation. The political disagreement over the July 20 protest remains active, with both sides standing by their respective positions as the controversy surrounding the alleged NEET paper leak continues.