Rahul meets Irfan, who went viral for reciting Preamble at Jantar Mantar; here’s what he said

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday (July 28) met Mohammad Irfan, who went viral for reciting the Preamble of the Constitution during the recent student protest at the Jantar Mantar, and said his perspective on the country demonstrates that India's greatest strength lies in its youth.

Posting pictures with Irfan, Rahul said in a post on Instagram, “I met Irfan – a young man from a Delhi neighbourhood whose mindset transcends his circumstances. His understanding of the Constitution, his perspective on the country, and his eagerness to learn demonstrate that India's greatest strength lies in its youth," the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said in his post in Hindi.

“Millions of young people like Irfan represent the country's true hope – inquisitive, sensitive and conscious of their rights and duties,” Rahul added.

During the protest against the NEET paper leak at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Irfan became the centre of attention on social media because of his emotive and grounded statements.

Coming from a slum settlement, 35-year-old Irfan is a roadside ice-slab vendor. He raised important issues such as the struggles of working-class labourers, workers in the unorganised sector, education, healthcare, and democratic rights, drawing from his own experience and hardships.

‘If you break your promises, you too will face protests’

During his interaction with Rahul, Irfan also gave a clear warning: if Rahul ever failed to fulfil his promises, Irfan said he too would face public protests.

Speaking to The Lallantop, Irfan said he urged Rahul to work for migrant workers and daily wage labourers, reminding him that he could one day lead the government.

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"I told him that even if he goes against his promises, we will oppose him and hit the streets. I am neutral and want the good of this country," Irfan said.

Voice for labourers and equal opportunity

A resident of Delhi's Sawda JJ Colony, Irfan said he highlighted the hardships faced by labourers, pointing to NCRB data showing that daily wage workers accounted for nearly 31 per cent of the 177,746 suicides reported in 2024.

"How can we ignore the people whose sweat and blood build this country?" he asked.

He also alleged that despite an official minimum monthly wage of Rs 18,000, many labourers earn only Rs 13,000-14,000 while working 10 to 11 hours a day.

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Irfan criticised inequalities in education, saying many students drop out before completing school and that technical institutions such as ITIs and polytechnics remain more accessible to middle-class families than to the poor.

"Education should provide equal opportunities. That is why we were sitting at Jantar Mantar," he said, adding that citizens have every right to question governments that fail to improve their lives.

Despite never attending school or learning to read and write, Irfan said he educates himself through YouTube videos and Google voice search on his smartphone.

‘Tell Rahul to get married’: Priyanka jokingly tells Irfan

He also shared a light-hearted moment from his meeting with Rahul, revealing that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called during their interaction and jokingly asked him to persuade her brother to get married, saying “he never listens to me”.

"I would rather like Rahul to never get married. He is older than me. He is a very kind-hearted person," Irfan quipped.

Why he wants to meet Amit Shah before PM Modi

Asked whether he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Irfan said he had no hesitation, despite ideological differences. However, he said he would first prefer to meet Home Minister Amit Shah.

According to Irfan, he wants to raise concerns over the alleged failure of police to act against drug trafficking in poorer neighbourhoods.

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Claiming that children in his locality know where narcotics are openly sold while authorities allegedly remain inactive, he said effective policing was essential to protect vulnerable communities.

Reflecting on the ideals of the Constitution, Irfan said the Preamble promises equality for all citizens and questioned why so many people continue to remain deprived despite those guarantees.