Daijiworld Media Network - Jaipur
Jaipur, Jun 17: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday interacted with students in Kota during the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Voice of Students) programme, asserting that the event was centred entirely on students' concerns and their future rather than politics.
Addressing the gathering at Kota’s Dussehra Ground, Rahul Gandhi said the initiative aimed to provide a platform for students to voice their anxieties over issues such as examination pressure, unemployment and the country's education system.
Sharing a video of his speech on X, the Congress leader said, “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 attack on the existing education framework, he argued that students are subjected to immense pressure that often suppresses their aspirations.
"India's education system puts enormous pressure on children. It creates stress and, in many cases, crushes their dreams. We must work together to ensure that no child is ever pushed towards taking an extreme step such as suicide," he said.
During his address, Rahul Gandhi held up a suicide note allegedly written by a student named Akanksha and said the tragedy reflected systemic failures rather than individual shortcomings.
"This is not Akanksha's failure. It is the failure of our education system," he said, alleging that education had increasingly become a means of financial exploitation.
The Congress leader also raised concerns over unemployment among graduates, claiming that only a small proportion of students secure jobs after completing their education.
"Out of every 1,000 students, only around 12 get employment. What happens to the remaining students? Some work as labourers, others become taxi drivers or join the gig economy. Today, many engineering graduates remain unemployed," he said.
He stressed that an ideal education system should allow students to pursue their ambitions without placing excessive financial burdens on their families.
Referring to competitive examinations such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE), Rahul Gandhi said the current model excludes far more students than it supports.
"Lakhs of students appear for these examinations, but only a small number are selected. Parents spend huge amounts on coaching institutes. Our education system has become a system of rejection rather than selection. It humiliates students and pushes many into depression," he said.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi arrived in Kota aboard a chartered aircraft at around 3.30 p.m.
He was received by senior Congress leaders, including Govind Singh Dotasra, Tikaram Jully, Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot.
A large number of party workers gathered to welcome him, leading to heavy crowds and temporary difficulties for police in clearing the route for his convoy.
Ahead of the event, 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.”