Rahul Gandhi Leads Opposition Protest at Gandhi Smriti Over Exam Paper Leaks
- Rahul Gandhi led a protest at Gandhi Smriti in Delhi, joined by opposition MPs, to support students affected by recurring exam paper leaks.
- The opposition has demanded Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation, stating there will be 'no debate without Pradhan’s resignation.'
- Gandhi claimed 152 paper leaks occurred in 10 years, affecting 7.5 crore students, with zero convictions so far.
- The protest highlights enduring tensions between Congress and AAP, as seen in the CJP protest's fallout.
Protest at Gandhi Smriti
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with several opposition MPs, gathered at Gandhi Smriti in Delhi on Thursday to protest against the repeated leak of examination papers. The demonstration was aimed at showing solidarity with students who have been affected by these leaks over the past decade.
Chanting slogans, the protesters demanded accountability from the central government. The opposition has made it clear that there will be no parliamentary debate on the issue until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns.
Gandhi's Three Demands
Speaking at the protest, Rahul Gandhi reiterated three key demands. He called for the immediate resignation of the Education Minister, a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into all paper leaks, and compensation for affected students.
“You harmed the future of our youth the most,” Gandhi said, responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement of fast-track courts to handle such cases. He argued that fast-track courts alone would not address the systemic failure.
Staggering Numbers
Gandhi claimed that in the last ten years, there have been 152 instances of paper leaks across various examinations. These leaks, he said, have impacted approximately 7.5 crore students. Despite the scale of the problem, he pointed out that there has been zero conviction in any of these cases.
The opposition leader stressed that the government’s approach has been reactive rather than preventive. He argued that without holding the minister accountable, no meaningful reform is possible.
Political Rift Exposed
The protest also revealed the ongoing friction between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The CJP (Common Joint Platform) protest, which was meant to be a united opposition front, has instead exposed the enduring fault line between the two parties.
While both parties are critical of the government over the paper leaks, their inability to coordinate has weakened the opposition’s collective bargaining power. This has allowed the ruling party to deflect criticism more effectively.
What Happens Next
The government has not yet responded to the opposition’s demand for the minister’s resignation. With Parliament in session, the opposition is expected to continue its protest and push for a debate. All eyes will be on whether the ruling party agrees to discuss the issue or maintains its current stance.