Students wanted discussion on exam, not toys: Rahul on PM's radio talk

Shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on Sunday (August 30) in his radio programme ‘Mann Ki Baat’ about making “toys for the world”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the Prime Minister and his calls for India to emerge as a “toy hub”.

Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader said lakhs of college students protesting the conduct of JEE and NEET exams during the COVID-19 crisis would have preferred a “pariksha pe charcha (discussion on exams)” over a “khilona pe charcha (discussion on toys)”.

“JEE-NEET aspirants wanted the PM do “pariksha pe charcha” but the PM did “khilone pe charcha,” Gandhi tweeted with the hashtag “#Mann_Ki_Nahi_Students_Ki_Baat”.

Prime Minister Modi, in his programme, had called upon startups and entrepreneurs to “team up for toys”, as he noted India’s miniscule share in the global toy market of over Rs 7 lakh crore and asserted that the country has talent and ability to become a hub for the industry.

He said it was time for startups to be “vocal for local toys” and also asked them to develop computer games in and based on India, citing the nations rich heritage and traditions that can drive innovations in the toy and gaming industry.

“Our country has so many ideas, so many concepts; our history has been very rich. Can we make games based on that? I call upon the young talent of the country – make games in India and make games based on India too. It is said that let the game begin! So, let us start the game,” he said.

Related news: Team up for homegrown toys, games, Modi tells start-ups in Mann Ki Baat

The prime minister had also recently chaired a meeting aimed at boosting India’s share in the global toy trade in which China is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters.

Rahul Gandhi’s most recent criticism comes amid pressure from students and opposition parties to postpone the Joint Entrance Exams (JEE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), which is scheduled to be held in September.

The Congress MP said in a video posted on Twitter on Friday (August 28) that the safety of NEET and JEE aspirants could not be compromised by the “failure of the government” to control the COVID-19 outbreak.

Describing the students as “the future”, Gandhi wanted to know why “further pain should be imposed” on them and urged the government against forcing the student community to sit for the exams.