Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday accused a “system” of having captured the country and alleged that it did not want students who questioned those in power.
Speaking at the latest edition of the Congress's Chhatron ki Goonj programme in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi focused on education, recruitment and the role of young people in questioning institutions. The event was centred on student concerns, including teacher vacancies, recruitment issues and access to education.
Gandhi says students threaten the ‘system’
Gandhi said students were the “future of India” and argued that no country could become strong without them. He said the most important quality of a student was curiosity because students naturally ask questions and seek to understand different subjects.
“The system feels threatened by students. Why? Because students ask questions,” Gandhi said.
Referring to Union home minister Amit Shah, he said students ask how Shah's son became chairman of a cricket association and how two individuals managed to “capture the entire business landscape of India”. He also said students question the functioning of the judiciary, other institutions and the Election Commission.
Gandhi described students as curious, loving, humble and honest. He said students tried to understand different ideologies and perspectives rather than fighting, threatening or intimidating others.
He also said only students could remove violence and hatred from the country.
Teacher vacancies, school closures raised
Gandhi flagged vacancies in teaching posts and said there were 10 lakh vacant teacher positions in the country. He also claimed that one lakh schools had been closed, with 55% of those closures in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. These figures were presented by Gandhi during his speech.
During his interaction with students, concerns were also raised about recruitment examinations in Madhya Pradesh, including the issue of a 13% quota. Students highlighted recruitment delays, alleged examination irregularities and the shortage of tribal hostels in Indore.
A tribal woman student urged Gandhi to raise the issue of inadequate Adivasi hostel facilities in Indore. Gandhi also offered to join the ongoing protest by candidates seeking teachers' jobs in the state.
Other reports from the event said students raised concerns about unemployment, pending MPPSC and Vyapam results, recruitment being kept on hold and vacant government posts.
Mohan Yadav hits back at Gandhi
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav criticised Gandhi's remarks, saying he had come to the state without adequate preparation.
Yadav called Gandhi a “careless politician” and said he should have arrived with factual information about the issues he raised. He argued that several of the questions raised by Gandhi concerned periods when Congress governments were in power, including 2012-13.
Yadav said Congress governments had governed the country and states for four to five generations and therefore should have answers to the issues raised by Gandhi.
He also questioned the condition of medical colleges in Madhya Pradesh during Congress rule and alleged that Congress had not built a single airport in the state. He referred to the opening of an airport at Khajuraho in 1977-78, saying the Janata Party had contributed to it.
Congress event shifted after venue dispute
The Indore programme was originally scheduled for September 12 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium but was postponed after permission to use the stadium was denied. Congress subsequently secured an alternative venue near the Regional Park.
The party leased around 12,000 square metres of land in front of the Regional Park for the programme. Congress leaders had accused the BJP government of delaying permission, while the BJP rejected the allegation and described it as political propaganda.
The programme ultimately took place at the alternative venue on September 19, where Gandhi interacted directly with students and framed education, employment, recruitment and the ability of young people to question institutions as central themes.