Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criticised what he described as the “system” during his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Indore on Saturday, focusing on issues related to education, recruitment, examination irregularities and student concerns. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav later responded, questioning Gandhi’s claims and saying they should have been backed by facts and data.
Addressing students, Gandhi said the programme was aimed at discussing problems faced by young people and the way institutions function. He alleged that students who ask questions are not encouraged and raised issues including paper leaks, recruitment delays, inadequate infrastructure and problems within educational institutions.
Gandhi also claimed that the share of education in the Union Budget had fallen from 4.6% in 2014 to 2.6% currently. He further alleged that a large number of teaching posts remain vacant and that scholarships have been reduced. These figures and allegations were presented by Gandhi during his address and have not been independently established in the reports cited here.
Students attending the programme raised concerns over recruitment delays, examination-related issues, hostel facilities and government appointments affected by ongoing legal proceedings concerning OBC reservations. Gandhi described students as an important part of the country's future and said their concerns needed to be heard.
The event was also marked by political disagreement between the Congress and the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav criticised Gandhi's programme, referring to it as “Jhoot ki Goonj” and arguing that the Congress leader should have presented supporting facts and data while discussing education and young people.
The programme had already faced controversy over its venue and security arrangements. The Congress had initially planned to hold the event at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but permission was not granted, with the administration citing existing court directions concerning the use of the stadium. The venue was subsequently shifted to an IDA ground near Regional Park.
Security arrangements also became a point of political debate. Indore Police issued several conditions for the programme, including arrangements for multiple entry and exit gates, metal detectors and separate security measures for women. The document also referred to the Justice J.S. Verma Commission's findings concerning security lapses surrounding the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Gandhi's Indore programme is part of his wider student outreach campaign, with education, recruitment and examination-related concerns forming a central focus of his interactions with young people.
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