Rahul Gandhi leads protest at Gandhi Smriti, demands PM apology over paper leaks
- Rahul Gandhi led opposition MPs in a protest at Gandhi Smriti in Delhi to support students.
- He demanded the PM apologise and the education minister resign over exam paper leaks.
- Gandhi claimed 152 paper leaks in 10 years affected 7.5 crore students with zero convictions.
Drama at Gandhi Smriti as Rahul Gandhi arrives
High drama unfolded in Delhi on Thursday as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reached Gandhi Smriti amid student protests. Barricades were put up and a bus was parked near the venue as security was tightened.
Gandhi was joined by other opposition MPs in a show of solidarity with students who have been demanding action against repeated exam paper leaks. The protest site held symbolic weight — Gandhi Smriti is the place where Mahatma Gandhi spent his last days.
Three demands, one tough message
Speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi did not mince words. He demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to the students across the country. He also called for the resignation of the Education Minister.
Gandhi said, “You harmed the future of our youth the most.” He rebutted the government’s recent announcement on fast-track courts for paper leak cases, insisting that the core demands were non-negotiable.
Staggering numbers, zero convictions
The Congress leader cited data that he said painted a grim picture. According to Gandhi, there have been 152 paper leaks in the last 10 years. These leaks, he claimed, affected 7.5 crore students.
Despite the scale of the problem, Gandhi pointed out that there have been zero convictions in these cases. This, he argued, showed a lack of will from the government to address the issue seriously.
Security and symbolism
The protest site saw a heavy presence of Delhi Police personnel. Barricades were erected and a bus was parked strategically, apparently to manage crowd movement. The opposition leaders, however, were allowed to proceed with their demonstration.
The choice of Gandhi Smriti was not incidental. It is a location steeped in the history of India’s freedom struggle, often used by political leaders to underline moral authority in their campaigns.
What happens next
The protest is expected to continue, with opposition parties planning to raise the issue in Parliament. The government has not yet responded to Gandhi’s specific demands for an apology or resignation. All eyes will be on the next session of Parliament for a potential confrontation over the paper leak crisis.