In Indore, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, spoke at the fifth edition of his youth outreach program “Chhatron Ki Goonj” on Saturday. The event, held in the commercial capital of Malwa, a stronghold of the BJP, focused on the theme “system versus students” and addressed issues of education, recruitment and employment with Gen Z participants.
Gandhi accused a “rotten system” of suppressing student inquiry and favoring blind supporters, a term used by critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the system feared students because they ask questions, and instead wanted “andhbhakts”—those who spread hatred without seeking answers.
He alleged that the system operates through several layers, targeting leaders such as Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. Gandhi claimed Doval controlled communications and engaged in snooping, while the system as a whole controlled political, institutional and economic life.
Students from across Madhya Pradesh raised a range of concerns, including the withholding of 13 per cent of government appointments amid legal disputes over the OBC quota, alleged arrests over MPPSC irregularities, inadequate hostel facilities for Adivasi students, and a shortage of 10 lakh teacher posts. Gandhi cited figures that 1.5 crore students had lost scholarships in the past decade and that the share of education in the Union Budget fell from 4.6 per cent in 2014 to 2.6 per cent.
Gandhi urged the government to ensure a complete education pathway—from kindergarten to employment—and to address corruption in examination systems. He screened a video on the Satya Niketan building collapse, met the family of a student who died, and invited students to speak on the stage. The program was marked by a high‑energy, youth‑centric atmosphere, with participants raising slogans and flashing mobile lights.
