Rahul at Indore event: ‘System has captured India, doesn’t want students to question’

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday (September 19) alleged that the "system" has captured the entire country and it does not want students to raise questions.

Speaking at his youth outreach programme “Chhatron ki Goonj” at Indore in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, he said only students can remove hatred from the country and not the “Andhbhakts”, referring to the supporters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP.

Students from various parts of Madhya Pradesh raised their issues at the event, including the freeze on 13 per cent recruitment in government posts owing to legal cases over the hike in the OBC quota.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said students are the future of India, and without them no country can become strong.

‘Students asking questions about the system’

Students are asking questions about the "system, including “Adani, Ambani, Jay Shah” and others, but “Andhbhakts oppose them", Rahul said.

The students embody curiosity, love, humility, tolerance, and honesty, while an Andhbhakt lacks all these virtues and spreads hatred, he added.

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"Ten lakh posts of teachers are vacant in the country. One lakh schools, including 55 per cent in UP and MP, have been closed," he claimed.

The UPA government had allocated 4.6 per cent of the Budget to education in 2014, while now the allocation has plummeted to 2.6 per cent or Rs 7.7 lakh crore, Rahul said.

‘NSA Ajit Doval controlling everything’: Rahul

Rahul also targeted PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, accusing them of ruining the system. Targeting National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Rahul alleged that he controlled everything, including social media, and indulged in snooping.

He said asking questions is intrinsic to being a student, and argued that the right to question is central to democracy. Rahul also said every poor person should have access to education, and linked education with the ability of young people to shape their future.

‘Freeze on 13 pc quota in MP’

A woman, Sapna Gurjar from Rajgarh, told Rahul Gandhi during the programme that many like her are suffering despite clearing state government exams, as 13 per cent appointments are put on hold over the OBC quota issue.

A student from Dewas claimed that when he and others flagged irregularities in the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPPSC), an FIR was registered against them and they were sent to jail. Speaking to another participant, Rahul offered to join an ongoing protest of aspirants for teachers’ posts in the state.

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Among those who raised their grievances before Rahul on stage were family members of Dewas-based Arpit Jaaj who died in the recent Delhi building collapse incident.

A tribal woman student raised the issue of shortage of Adivasi hostels and other facilities for students like her.

(With agency inputs)