Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has raised concerns over the availability of safe and affordable hostel facilities for female students, linking the issue to the recent diya-lighting celebrations held for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday.
Speaking at his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Gandhi referred to a female student who had told him about the difficulties she faced after moving from a village to Indore for higher education. According to Gandhi, the student could not find a hostel and had to stay in paying guest accommodation.
Gandhi said the cost of accommodation creates additional financial pressure on students and their families. He also questioned whether existing housing allowances for students are sufficient to meet rising costs and alleged that such benefits can be affected by corruption.
He further claimed that some female students are forced to discontinue their education because they cannot find suitable accommodation. Gandhi asked the central government to address the issue and directly questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the availability of hostel facilities.
His remarks came shortly after large-scale diya-lighting events were organised in Madhya Pradesh as part of birthday celebrations for Modi on September 17. According to reports, around 3.55 crore diyas were lit across the state, including more than 33 lakh at locations around Ujjain’s Shipra river ghats and Mahakal Lok.
The total official expenditure on the celebrations has not been publicly disclosed. Separate estimates regarding the cost of oil and other materials have circulated, while opposition leaders have also questioned the spending.
At the Indore event, Gandhi discussed several issues concerning students, including education, recruitment, examinations, employment and accommodation. He argued that students should be able to question institutions and authorities about opportunities and public policy.
Gandhi also alleged that a broader “system” was discouraging students from asking questions. These remarks have drawn a response from Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who said Gandhi should provide facts and data when making claims concerning education and children.
The exchange has added another political dimension to the ongoing debate over education, student welfare and government spending priorities.
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