Rahul Gandhi: PM Modi wants blind followers, not questioning students

Rahul Gandhi accused National Security Advisor Ajit Doval of digital surveillance and phone tapping.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said on Saturday (September 19, 2026) that the 'system' running the country does not like students who ask questions. It only wants 'blind followers.' The Congress uses the term 'blind followers' for staunch supporters of the BJP.

Addressing the fifth 'Students' Echo' program in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi alleged that,

"a 'system' has taken control of the country, and this system is against students and the education system. This system is controlled by some powerful people, while students who ask questions are a threat to them."

Rahul Gandhi mentioned that he had previously held 'Students' Echo' programs in cities like Kota, Pune, Dehradun, and Prayagraj. Issues related to students, such as paper leaks, institutional failures, poor infrastructure, and the privatization of education, were raised. In Indore, we decided that today we would talk about 'system versus students.' Addressing thousands of youth at the IDA Ground in Indore, Rahul Gandhi alleged that,

"this system has many layers, and at the top are six people. He said that this system is being run under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is its 'enforcer.'

Rahul Gandhi displayed pictures of several BJP and RSS leaders, senior bureaucrats, industrialists, and people from the media and film industry while making his allegations. He named Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani as part of the upper layer of the 'system.'

Rahul Gandhi accused National Security Advisor Ajit Doval of digital surveillance of people and tapping phones. He claimed that Doval keeps an eye on people's phones and social media and relays this information to Amit Shah and Narendra Modi.

Rahul Gandhi said that,

"Doval has said in informal conversations that to control India, only 500 people need to be controlled. He alleged, 'Doval is sitting in our and your phones.'

He also accused RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat of bringing ideology into the system, and in return, his organization is given crores of rupees to run educational institutions.

Rahul Gandhi accused industrialist Gautam Adani of financially supporting the 'system' and funneling money earned from government contracts to this system. He claimed that this money is given to the BJP, which is used for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's publicity and to run the 'system.'

He alleged that this system has placed its people in various institutions, including politics, business, the judiciary, bureaucracy, education, media, entertainment, and sports.

Giving the example of cricket, Rahul Gandhi alleged that despite having many cricket players in the country, the entire contract for cricket has been given to Amit Shah's son, Jay Shah.

Rahul Gandhi stated that students are a threat to this system because they ask questions about why institutions like the judiciary, bureaucracy, and the Election Commission are not doing their jobs properly.

He said,

"That is why the system does not want students. It wants blind followers who are against students. The system prepares and promotes blind followers."

Comparing students and 'blind followers,' Rahul Gandhi said that,

"Students are curious, while blind followers live in confusion. According to them, students talk about love and respect, while blind followers spread hatred. He said that students are humble and listen to others, while blind followers are filled with arrogance."

He further stated that,

"Students are fearless, while blind followers are cowardly." While speaking about students respecting women, Rahul Gandhi alleged that blind followers have a patriarchal mindset and attack women. He described students as honest and blind followers as dishonest and deceitful.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that those who run this 'system' do not want their children to become blind followers and send their children abroad for education. Rahul Gandhi asserted that,

"More than one lakh schools have been closed across the country, and 55 percent of these schools are in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh alone."

He also claimed that,

"The total share of the education budget of the central government in the total budget was 4.6 percent in 2014, which has decreased to 2.6 percent in 2026."

During the program, several students and candidates preparing for government jobs were called to the stage. They raised issues such as delays in government job recruitment in Madhya Pradesh, the matter of increasing OBC reservation being pending in court, and delays in nursing examinations. It was also reported that students protested against the delay in the nursing examination.

The family of 18-year-old student Arpit Jaj from Dewas also met Rahul Gandhi on stage. Arpit died in a building collapse in Delhi earlier this month. The family alleged that their son's death was due to the 'system's failure.' After meeting the family, Rahul Gandhi said that this is the price of lack of infrastructure and cuts in the government's education budget.

Earlier on Saturday morning, several posters regarding Rahul Gandhi's program in Indore surfaced. There were also several controversies surrounding it before the event. Following this, Congress National General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh was scared of this program and had tried every possible means to stop it.