As Rahul Gandhi prepares to address thousands of students in Kota over alleged exam irregularities and paper leaks, the BJP has accused Congress of politicising the issue, setting the stage for a high-voltage showdown.
With the NEET paper leak controversy once again at the centre of national debate, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to hold a major student convention in Rajasthan’s Kota on today evening, positioning the event as a platform to amplify concerns over examination irregularities, paper leaks and youth unemployment.
The programme, scheduled for 5.30 pm at the Shri Ram Rangmanch in Dussehra Ground, has triggered a political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP even before Gandhi takes the stage.
A day ahead of the event, Gandhi accused the Narendra Modi government of crushing the aspirations of millions of young Indians through “paper leaks, exam mismanagement, cancelled recruitments, skyrocketing fees, privatisation and scams”.
“My young and Gen Z friends, one thing is clear to me, and I want you to engrain this in your heart as well: securing the future of every young Indian is the government’s responsibility. Yet, both responsibility and integrity are concepts alien to the Modi government,” Gandhi wrote on X.
“Paper leaks, exam mismanagement, cancelled recruitments, skyrocketing fees, privatisation, and scams — these are the very tools with which they are shattering crores of dreams every day,” he said, adding that he wanted to discuss these issues directly with students.
The Congress has projected the Kota programme as the first in a nationwide series of student conventions focused on issues affecting young people, particularly alleged paper leaks and examination-related controversies.
CONGRESS GEARS UP FOR STUDENT OUTREACH
Ahead of Gandhi’s visit, Congress leaders intensified preparations in Kota. A meeting of the Mahila Congress was held at the party office in Gumanpura, where leaders discussed mobilisation efforts and assigned ward-level responsibilities to ensure strong participation.
Among those present were Mahila Congress national secretary and Rajasthan in-charge Deepti Singh, City District Congress Committee president Rakhi Gautam and Mahila Congress city president Shalini Gautam.
Party workers have been tasked with reaching out to students and young people across the city and encouraging participation in the interaction.
Deepti Singh described Kota as the centre of aspirations for lakhs of students from across the country and said Gandhi’s interaction carried special significance at a time when concerns over examinations and employment were growing.
She said issues such as the alleged NEET irregularities, questions surrounding examination systems and rising unemployment had become major concerns for young Indians.
Shalini Gautam said the event was not merely a political programme but an opportunity to bring students’ voices to a national platform and discuss issues related to education, employment and the future of the youth.
BJP ACCUSES CONGRESS OF POLITICISING STUDENTS
The BJP, however, launched a sharp attack on Gandhi and the Congress, accusing them of exploiting students’ concerns for political gain.
BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia alleged that the programme had been organised by Gandhi’s “toolkit gang” to mislead students and create political controversy ahead of the NEET re-examination scheduled for June 21.
“When students want to study and rewrite their exam, why is it that you and your leaders are threatening students and other stakeholders?” Bhatia asked.
“The entire protest has been sponsored by the toolkit gang, whose kingpin is Rahul Gandhi. The motive is to play with the future of the youth, who are preparing to write their exam,” he claimed.
Bhatia questioned the timing of the programme, arguing that students should be concentrating on preparation for the re-examination rather than attending political events.
He also pointed to paper leak incidents during the previous Congress government in Rajasthan and asked whether the party had apologised to students affected during that period.
POLITICAL ROW DEEPENS
The controversy widened further after BJP workers staged a protest in Kota, arguing that students should be allowed to focus on their studies in the days leading up to the examination.
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, meanwhile, accused the administration of removing hoardings promoting Gandhi’s programme. He claimed the action reflected nervousness within the ruling BJP and alleged a political conspiracy to undermine the event.
