‘Our fight begins today’: Rahul Gandhi on NEET row in Kota
Jaipur: Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi interacted with students at Kota’s Dussehra Ground on Wednesday during the Chhatron Ki Goonj (Voice of Students) programme.
He asserted that the event was not political but focused entirely on students’ concerns and future.
The Congress shared a video of his address on X, where LoP Rahul Gandhi told the crowd: “I am very happy and honoured to stand before you in Kota. This is not a political meeting. This is about you and your future.”
Launching a sharp critique of the education system, LoP Rahul Gandhi said, “India’s education system puts immense pressure on children. It causes stress and often suppresses their aspirations. We must fight together to ensure that no child is ever forced to take a drastic step such as suicide.”
Holding up a suicide note allegedly written by a student named Akanksha, LoP Rahul Gandhi remarked, “This is not Akanksha’s failure. It is the failure of our education system.” He alleged that the system has increasingly turned into a mechanism for financial exploitation.
He claimed that only a small fraction of graduates secure employment. “Out of every 1,000 students, only around 12 get jobs. What happens to the rest? Some end up working as labourers, while others drive taxis or work in the gig economy. Today, a large number of engineering graduates are unemployed,” he said.
LoP Rahul Gandhi added that an ideal education system should enable students to dream big without imposing excessive financial burdens.
Referring to competitive exams such as NEET and JEE, he argued that the current structure rejects far more students than it accommodates.
“Lakhs of students appear for these exams, but only a handful are selected. Parents spend lakhs of rupees on coaching. Our education system has become a system of rejection rather than selection. It humiliates students and pushes many towards depression,” he said.
Earlier in the day, LoP Rahul Gandhi arrived in Kota by chartered aircraft at around 3:30 p.m. He was received by Rajasthan Congress President Govind Singh Dotasra, Leader of Opposition Tikaram Jully, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Sachin Pilot.
A large number of Congress workers gathered to welcome him, making it difficult for police to clear the route for his convoy.
Before arriving, LoP Rahul Gandhi posted on X: “Today, from Kota, we begin a fight with one objective, to ensure that no child’s dreams are shattered and that no parent has to suffer the loss of a child. The pain of every family will now become the voice of students across the country.”