Rahul Gandhi's Kota Student Dialogue Draws Massive Crowd, Sparks Political Row with BJP

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited Kota, Rajasthan, for a student interaction program titled ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Echo of Students), where he addressed concerns over India's education system, paper leaks, unemployment, and the financial burden on families. The event, held at the city’s Dashahara Maidan, saw thousands of students in attendance, many without books or bags, as Gandhi spoke about the pressures faced by young aspirants preparing for competitive exams like NEET, JEE, and UPSC.

During the interaction, Gandhi claimed that Indian families spend approximately Rs 5 lakh crore on preparing for five major examinations, an amount he said equals the budgets of five government ministries. He asserted that the current education system has become a “money-making machine” and alleged that out of every 1,000 individuals, only 12 secure employment, while 80% of engineers in the country remain jobless. He urged students to prioritize career choices based on their interests and not succumb to societal pressure.

The Congress party has announced plans to expand the dialogue series to other coaching hubs, including Lucknow, Patna, and Delhi, to highlight issues related to the education system and paper leaks. Rajasthan Congress president Govind Singh described the event as a “fight to save the future of the youth.” A student named Mehak Yadav told the BBC that Gandhi’s raising of the paper leak issue had given her hope, as she is preparing to retake the NEET exam after a leak disrupted her earlier attempt.

The event, though attended by senior Congress leaders including former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and state party officials, was carefully staged to give students the spotlight. No leaders were given places on stage, reinforcing Gandhi’s claim that the platform was non-political and entirely for the youth.

The BJP, however, dismissed the event as a “gimmick over NEET” and a “comedy circus.” It criticized the Congress for using students as a political tool ahead of the 2029 general elections. Political analysts suggest that Gandhi’s focus on youth, education, unemployment, and inflation is part of a broader strategy to connect with first-time voters and build momentum for upcoming state elections in 2027, with the next Lok Sabha polls in 2029 as the ultimate target.