BJP using state machinery to disrupt Rahul’s student outreach in Kota: Congress
Congress claims the BJP and Rajasthan government are trying to obstruct Rahul Gandhi’s Kota student convention focused on NEET paper leaks, education reforms and jobs
New Delhi, Jun 17 (PTI) The Congress on Wednesday alleged that the full might of the state is being deployed to sabotage Rahul Gandhi’s student convention in Rajasthan’s Kota because the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are anxious that their “throne is tottering”.
Gandhi is set to address a student convention in Kota on Wednesday, focusing on issues such as the NEET-UG paper leak, the CBSE's on-screen marking (OSM) system, and unemployment.
The series of conferences begins in Kota, followed by events in Prayagraj, Patna and Delhi.
Congress spokesperson Ragini Nayak said, “As soon as the Modi government learned that Rahul Gandhi is going to meet the Gen Z in Kota, panic gripped the ruling party, and they broke into a sweat out of fear. Driven by desperation, the BJP and the Rajasthan government are throwing the full weight of their power into stopping the 'chhattron ki goonj' from being heard.” “But students – the Gen Z themselves – are coming to meet Rahul Gandhi; seeing this, Narendra Modi is haunted by fear that his throne is tottering,” she told a press conference here.
Nayak added, “Fulfilling his responsibility as the leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi has raised the voice of the youth. He is the only leader to have done so.
“Meanwhile, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan did nothing but try to hide his face in this entire matter; Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained silent, and the ABVP and the BJP's youth wing did nothing.” The Congress spokesperson also claimed that Prime Minister Modi and Education Minister Pradhan have betrayed the country's youth and stabbed them in the back.
The Modi government cannot conduct even a single examination without the Army and the Air Force, which is why more than 89 paper leaks have occurred in the last 10 years, she alleged.
“The situation is such that, on the recommendation of the National Testing Agency (NTA), Telegram has been banned until the NEET re-exam. In other words, Telegram has been banned on the recommendation of the same NTA whose banning is being demanded by lakhs of students protesting on the streets," she said.
“Under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, the NSUI, the Youth Congress, and every 'Babbar Sher' (fearless warrior) of the Congress will raise the voice of the youth, and all citizens of the country should become a part of this. Narendra Modi will try to hide his failures, but the people of the country and we must demonstrate our strength,” Nayak added.
Gandhi is set to interact with students in Kota on Wednesday evening as part of the Congress’ campaign on paper leaks and youth issues.
The event has triggered a political row in Rajasthan over its timing ahead of the NEET re-exam on June 21, with the BJP calling it “political tourism”. PTI