Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must apologise to students across the country, asserting that three specific demands from the student community are non-negotiable. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Gandhi accused the central government of 'betraying' the youth by implementing policies that harm their future.
According to Gandhi, the first demand is the immediate withdrawal of the new National Education Policy (NEP) implementation guidelines that allegedly impose excessive fees and reduce access to higher education. He claimed that many students have been forced to drop out due to financial burdens.
Three Non-Negotiable Demands
The second demand, Gandhi said, is the restoration of the lump sum scholarship programme that was replaced with a loan-based model. He argued that this change has left thousands of meritorious students from low-income families without adequate support. 'The government must reverse this decision and ensure no student is denied education due to financial constraints,' he stated.
The third demand is a formal apology from PM Modi for what Gandhi described as 'misleading promises' made during elections regarding job creation and education reforms. 'The Prime Minister must apologise to the students whose dreams he shattered,' Gandhi said.
He warned that if the demands are not met within a week, the Congress party will launch a nationwide protest, including a march to Parliament. Party leaders have been directed to mobilise student organisations and youth wings across states.
Reactions and Government Response
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed Gandhi's demands as 'political theatrics'. Spokesperson Sambit Patra said, 'The NEP has been widely praised by educationists. Rahul Gandhi is only trying to divert attention from his own party's shortcomings.'
Student groups have also reacted, with some supporting Gandhi while others accused him of exploiting the issue for political gain. The All India Students' Association (AISA) stated, 'We welcome the Congress support, but students will not be used as pawns.'
The controversy erupted last week when a student delegation met Gandhi and presented a petition with over 200,000 signatures demanding changes to the education policy. Gandhi promised to take up their cause in Parliament.
As the debate intensifies, educational institutions in several states have reported sporadic protests. No official response from the Prime Minister's Office has been received yet.
