INDORE – In a scathing critique of the current administration, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a massive gathering of students in Indore on Saturday, 19 September 2026, alleging that the Indian education system has been systematically overhauled to favor “blind followers” over critical thinkers. Gandhi argued that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, students who dare to ask questions are increasingly treated as a threat to national stability.
“The system today does not reward curiosity or intellectual rigor,” Gandhi told the audience. “Instead, it demands andhbhakts—people who follow without questioning. If you challenge the status quo, you are labeled an enemy of the state.”
Gandhi’s address centered on the claim that the country’s foundational pillars—including the judiciary, the corporate sector, and academic institutions—have been captured by a narrow circle of influential figures. He explicitly named a cohort he alleged controls the levers of power, including Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and industrialists Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. According to the Congress leader, this coalition exerts undue influence over key sectors, effectively narrowing the scope for merit-based advancement in favor of protecting entrenched interests.
The speech served as a focal point for mounting frustrations over the state of India’s youth employment and academic standards. Gandhi drew sharp attention to what he characterized as a crisis of governance, pointing to systemic failures such as recurring paper leaks, persistent recruitment irregularities, and a shrinking investment in the future of the nation’s scholars.
“The government’s priorities are clear when you look at the numbers,” Gandhi asserted. He highlighted a significant decline in fiscal support for education, stating that the allocation for education in the Union Budget has plummeted from 4.6% in 2014 to a mere 2.6% in 2026. He further alleged that these diverted funds are being siphoned off to benefit a select few business interests, leaving the public sector to grapple with thousands of vacant teaching positions and a drastic reduction in scholarships.
The address sparked an immediate political firestorm. While students cheered the critique of academic stagnation, the ruling party and regional leadership swiftly mobilized to counter the allegations. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav led the pushback, dismissing the claims as a desperate attempt to create political unrest among the youth.
As the 2026 academic year progresses, Gandhi’s rally in Indore marks a deepening divide between the opposition and the government regarding the future of Indian education. With concerns over the erosion of institutional independence and the rising cost of academic exclusion, the debate over who controls the nation’s classrooms is expected to remain a central issue in the national discourse for the months to come.
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