Indore: Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the ruling establishment on Saturday, asserting that the current “system” fears students because they possess the courage to ask questions. Interacting with the youth during the fifth edition of the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Voice of Students) programme at the Bharat Jodo Maidan in Indore, Gandhi drew a sharp contrast between curious students and “andhbhakts” (blind followers).
Addressing a massive gathering of young aspirants, Gandhi stated that no country can become strong without the active participation of its students. “A student naturally asks questions, remains curious, tries to understand different ideologies, and operates with honesty. The system feels threatened by students because they ask why our infrastructure is collapsing, why exam papers are leaking, and why institutions like the Election Commission are failing to perform their duties,” he said.
He further alleged that the system deliberately prefers ‘andhbhakts’ who live in a delusional world. “An andhbhakt will say development is not needed and that Prime Minister Modi is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. But they will never question the poor condition of our schools and colleges,” Gandhi remarked.
The event, which was themed “System vs Students,” provided an open platform for youths to voice their frustrations over delayed recruitments, paper leaks, and lack of transparency. A female aspirant highlighted that despite clearing government exams, 13 per cent of appointments in Madhya Pradesh have been put on hold for the past eight years due to unresolved legal disputes over reservations. Another student from Dewas alleged that he was jailed and faced an FIR simply for exposing irregularities in the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC) examinations.
This student outreach initiative by the Congress leader aims to highlight the deteriorating state of the education system. Gandhi has previously hosted similar interactive sessions in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj, and Pune.
The Indore event faced initial administrative hurdles and was originally slated to be held at the Nehru Stadium. After permission was denied, the local Congress unit secured a 12,000-square-metre ground in front of the Regional Park on a temporary lease to accommodate the large crowd of students.