Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday offered to remain in Parliament from 3pm on August 12 until 3pm on August 13 to hear the Opposition's concerns and respond to them point by point, escalating the political confrontation over the alleged police action against students during a July 20 protest over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Shah's offer came as Opposition MPs continued to demand his presence in Parliament and a statement on the alleged use of force against students during the protest and subsequent march towards Parliament. The Opposition has been seeking answers from the government over what happened during the July 20 demonstration, while the government has maintained that it is ready for a detailed parliamentary discussion. Shah rejected allegations that he had been absent from Parliament. "I have been coming to Parliament regularly since the session began," Shah said, adding that he had been sitting in his chamber while proceedings in both Houses were disrupted. He also criticised the language being used by Opposition leaders, referring to descriptions such as "laapata" and "bhaag gaye". What Amit Shah offered Shah said the Opposition could approach the Lok Sabha Speaker to schedule a discussion and that he was prepared to participate for an extended period. He said the government was ready for a discussion beginning at 3pm on Wednesday and continuing until 3pm on Thursday, including sitting late into the night if required. Shah also said he was prepared to take notes during the debate and respond to every point raised by Opposition members. He argued that a serious matter should be discussed through established parliamentary procedures rather than through a standalone statement. "The government has nothing to hide," Shah said, according to reports. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had earlier said that the government was ready for a full and detailed discussion on the student protests and urged Opposition parties to allow Parliament to function. Rahul Gandhi rejects Shah's offer Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi rejected Shah's offer, saying the Opposition wanted answers rather than what he described as a lecture. Gandhi questioned who authorised the alleged use of force against students during the July 20 protest. He also directly questioned whether Shah had ordered police action against the protesters. "If he did, then he should resign," Gandhi said. Gandhi further alleged that Shah had been absent from the House and questioned why the Home Minister had not addressed the issue in Parliament. The Congress leader later shared a video of his remarks on X, writing that Shah's silence amounted to a confession. These are political allegations and claims by the Opposition; they have not been established as facts. Why is Amit Shah being asked to respond? The dispute centres on the July 20 student protest in Delhi, held against the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak and wider concerns about examination irregularities. Student protesters marched towards Parliament after gathering at Jantar Mantar. Opposition leaders subsequently alleged that protesters were subjected to excessive police action, including lathi-charge and other measures. The allegations have become a major flashpoint during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The government has said it is willing to discuss the matter, while the Opposition has continued to demand a response from the Home Minister. The controversy has also prompted the Central Reserve Police Force to announce a post-action review of the Rapid Action Force's conduct during the protests. The CRPF said 47 RAF personnel were injured during the unrest. Government vs Opposition: What happens next? The immediate question is whether the Opposition will accept the government's proposed format for a detailed debate. Shah has offered to remain in the House for an extended discussion and answer questions raised by MPs. Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, has maintained that the Opposition's priority is obtaining specific answers about the alleged police action against students. The standoff comes amid repeated disruptions in Parliament over the NEET paper leak controversy and the July 20 protests. The issue has become one of the central political flashpoints of the Monsoon Session. For now, the disagreement is not simply over whether the issue should be discussed, but how the discussion should take place and what answers the Opposition expects from the Home Minister.