Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday lauded whistleblower student Sarthak Sidhant and his associate Nisarga Adhikary for exposing the alleged collusion between the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and COEMPT. Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating that while the PM wants the youth to keep making reels and frying pakodas, these two young individuals asked questions and found answers.
Gandhi's Remarks on Social Media
Sharing a video of his meeting with Sidhant on X, Gandhi wrote in Hindi that Sarthak, at just 18 years old, is unmatched in mindset, courage, and principles. He and his associate Nisarga accomplished what major media houses and investigative journalists could not: exposing the CBSE-COEMPT collusion to the nation. Gandhi emphasized that an 18-year-old proved faster and sharper than the CBI, calling this a victory for the youth and a defeat for the government.
Criticism of PM Modi
Gandhi accused Modi of wanting the youth to remain passive, making reels and frying pakodas without questioning. He praised Sidhant and Adhikary as examples of India's true youth power: inquisitive, aware, and informed. He asserted that the country's future will not be led astray.
Background of the Controversy
The CBSE had replaced traditional paper checking with an onscreen marking system (OSM) for Class 12 board exams. However, students alleged that scanned copies of their answer sheets did not match their handwriting, raising concerns about possible mismatches. Following the controversy, the government shunted out two top CBSE officials. The opposition Congress dismissed this as an eyewash, with Gandhi demanding the sacking of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and an independent judicial inquiry.
Meeting with the Whistleblower
In the video, Gandhi asked Sidhant how he uncovered the alleged irregularities in the OSM tendering process. Gandhi commended him for doing the work of investigative journalists. After meeting Sidhant and his family, Gandhi had earlier posted pictures and encouraged him to stay firm on his principles. Sidhant also presented his findings before a parliamentary panel on the same day.
Political Reactions
The Congress party has been vocal in its criticism, calling the government's actions insufficient. The row has intensified political debate over education governance and transparency in board examinations.
