New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that the country’s education system has been influenced by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), saying students across India were protesting not only against examination-related issues but also for the freedom to question and pursue knowledge.
Participating in a discussion in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi said the recent student protests reflected the aspirations and concerns of the country’s youth and deserved respect from all political parties.
Drawing from what he described as a conversation with an 18-year-old student, Gandhi said a true student is someone with an open mind, humility and a willingness to seek truth. He contrasted this with people who, according to him, believe they possess absolute knowledge and are unwilling to listen to others.
The Congress leader said students were frustrated by issues such as paper leaks, alleged irregularities in examinations, privatisation of parts of the education system and rising educational costs. He alleged that deserving students were being disadvantaged by corruption and irregularities in recruitment and examination processes.
Gandhi further alleged that the RSS exercises influence over the functioning of the education system and claimed that vice-chancellors in universities were affiliated with the organisation. He said the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would not address what he described as deeper structural issues.
He also alleged that students were being prevented from freely expressing their views and pursuing their interests, and claimed that the recent protests represented a broader demand for academic freedom and employment opportunities.
During his speech, Gandhi criticised the Union Home Minister over the handling of student protests and alleged that force had been used against students. He also questioned the Home Minister’s absence from the House during the discussion.
The remarks were made by Rahul Gandhi during the Lok Sabha debate. The government responded with objections to several of his statements during the proceedings.
