Rahul Gandhi energizes students with call to change BJP government
Rahul Gandhi urged students to invest in education, highlighting issues like exam paper leaks.
“Tata, bye-bye, khatam...” When Congress leader Rahul Gandhi repeated this favourite Gen Z phrase while speaking about changing the Modi government at the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme held at a stadium in Prayagraj, the entire stadium resonated with applause from the students. The enthusiasm among the students at the event was at its peak.
Addressing the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Prayagraj, Rahul Gandhi said,
"You are the strength and pride of India. When I say this, I am speaking for every citizen of India." "In this darkness, you have lit a light. You have done what your parents could not. They could not face their fears, but the students and youth of India have faced their fears and changed the country." Appealing to the youth to "continue fighting for their rights," he said, "I stand with you and will continue to stand with you."
Without mentioning Jantar Mantar or the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Rahul Gandhi praised several protests carried out by the youth. He said it is a sign that the youth are now beginning to challenge the current system.
On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi addressed a large gathering in Prayagraj, which mostly included students and aspirants preparing for competitive exams. Many had come from outside Prayagraj. The ground of the event was waterlogged in several places and muddy. Before the gathering, JCB machines were used to spread lime and sand on the waterlogged areas, and road rollers were used to level the ground.
After the month-long protest against paper leaks at Jantar Mantar ended, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP and RSS in his programme related to students, mentioning "pain, data, and wealth."
Rahul Gandhi said,
"This evening, I want to talk to you about pain, data, and wealth." "India has youth and the most data in the world. Youth and data together make the economy of the 21st century. This data belongs to the youth of the country, but the economic benefits from it are going to big companies."
Pointing to the pictures of industrialist Gautam Adani, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on the screen behind him, Rahul Gandhi said,
"The data is yours, the pain is yours, but the wealth is theirs? This is the system."
He said,
"You are told to watch as many reels as you want, send as many WhatsApp messages as you want, and watch or make as many reels on Instagram as you want, but this is the addiction of the 21st century."
It is noteworthy that during the Bihar Assembly elections, in which the BJP won, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had mentioned providing cheap data by his government. He had also said that people are earning well by making reels on Instagram. Rahul Gandhi said that one aspect of this "system" is also to control people's thinking.
He said,
"Propagandists in every institution, propagandists in bureaucracy, propagandists in forces, propagandists in media, propagandists in judiciary, propagandists in paramilitary, propagandists in university-colleges, this is a way to control thinking."
He said,
"You spend money on education, work hard, but all doors to employment are closed. The paper leaks, and some rich kid buys the paper and ruins your future."
It is worth mentioning that one of the major protests before the Jantar Mantar movement also took place in Prayagraj, where on May 2, students took to the streets over two recruitment exams in Uttar Pradesh. Usually seen in white or black T-shirts, Rahul Gandhi wore a pink shirt at this programme. Addressing the excited crowd, he said that despite all the discussions about the US, China, and Russia, no one can match the youth of India.
The Congress leader also called two students on stage and asked them to share their experiences. Emphasising his message of "Mohabbat Ki Dukaan," Rahul Gandhi said,
"You have to open a shop of love and fight with love... not a single student should have hatred in their heart."
Before Prayagraj, Rahul Gandhi had conducted similar ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programmes in Kota and Dehradun. Once again, the Congress kept its party presence minimal at the event. No party flags were put up around the venue to keep the focus entirely on the students.
Several posters of Rahul Gandhi were put up around the programme venue, describing him as a "Jan Nayak." The posters also had several slogans written on them, such as— "We need jobs, not pellet guns," "Minister's big car, country's youth unemployed," and "If there are no jobs, the throne will shake."
Shivam Singh, a Prayagraj resident preparing for competitive exams, said,
"Instead of addressing our concerns, the current government is trying to harass us and suppress our voices by using force."
Sinh said that,
"He completed his post-graduation two years ago and has been preparing for government recruitment exams since then. Being the eldest of four siblings, he also has the responsibility of his family."
Rajesh Pal, a 26-year-old from Basti preparing for competitive exams while living in a rented house in Prayagraj, said,
"His family has been staunch supporters of the BJP, but they are upset with the police lathi charge on students in Delhi. Rajesh said he wanted to go to Delhi to join the protest but could not."
Avadhesh Pal, 31, said he has been living away from his home in Kaushambi for the past six years, preparing for competitive exams in Prayagraj. Avadhesh said, "I have taken many exams, but I am still waiting for the results of many of them. Many other exams were cancelled due to paper leaks." All three mentioned that they participated in the protest held in Prayagraj on May 29. Ritesh Awasthi said he came from Varanasi "to hear what Rahul Gandhi has to say about the problems of students."
Another aspirant from Varanasi, 25-year-old Vinay Singh, said,
"Rahul Gandhi understands that these issues are affecting students' careers and creating uncertainty. He is one of the few leaders who seem willing to listen to us."