Rahul Gandhi Targets PM Modi Over Youth Protests, Accuses Government of Failing Students
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, accusing the Centre of failing the country's youth and damaging India's education system. His remarks came amid continuing protests led by students and opposition parties over alleged examination irregularities and paper leak controversies.
In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that the Prime Minister had overseen the weakening of the education system while shielding those responsible for its decline. He claimed that the government had failed to safeguard the future of students and questioned its commitment to educational reforms.
The Congress leader's criticism followed Prime Minister Modi's statement that protecting the interests and future of India's youth remains one of the government's highest priorities. The Prime Minister asserted that those responsible for harming students through examination malpractices would face strict action.
Modi also said he had directed the concerned authorities to take all necessary measures to address paper leak cases, adding that the government was continuing efforts to strengthen the examination system and protect students' interests.
The political exchange comes as opposition leaders continue to criticise the BJP-led government over its handling of student protests and examination-related controversies.
Earlier, Union Health Minister JP Nadda addressed a press conference, accusing the opposition of politicising the issue of examination irregularities and urging all parties to participate in a constructive discussion in Parliament to develop a long-term solution.
However, opposition leaders remained unconvinced. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav questioned why a minister unrelated to the education portfolio was responding to the issue, arguing that it reflected the government's lack of seriousness in addressing students' concerns.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia also criticised the Centre, alleging that proposed fast-track courts would only target lower-level offenders while failing to establish accountability at higher levels within the education system.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi renewed demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, saying ministerial accountability was essential whenever major failures affected students nationwide. She also called for comprehensive reforms to India's examination and education system with input from experts.
The ongoing political confrontation has intensified the debate over examination integrity, accountability and education reforms, with student welfare remaining at the centre of the national discussion.
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