NEW DELHI — In a scathing critique of the Centre, Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi accused the Modi government of responding to student protests over paper leaks with "cowardice and wanton cruelty," treating young citizens not as the future of India, but as "enemies of the nation."
Writing in an opinion piece for The Hindu titled "An education system's collapse, young India's trauma," Gandhi condemned police action against students, particularly highlighting the force used by Delhi Police and CAPF personnel during demonstrations on July 20. She stated that peaceful protesters were subjected to lathi charges, tear gas, and pellet usage directly supervised by the Union Home Ministry.
Three Structural Failures in Indian Education
In her article, Gandhi outlined three core issues behind the widespread student discontent:
Retreat from Public Education: She criticized the Centre for slashing the proportion of budget allocation toward school and higher education, claiming the government shut down nearly 100,000 public schools over 12 years while encouraging private expansion. She noted that families now spend as much on NEET coaching alone as the central budget allocates to public education.
Systemic Breakdown of Exams: Gandhi targeted the National Testing Agency (NTA), calling it a chronically understaffed body reliant on private contractors and politically affiliated paper-setters. She highlighted that 152 paper leaks have occurred across India over the past 12 years, including nine under NTA oversight since 2017.
Diminishing Post-Graduation Opportunities: She argued that centralizing entrance tests like CUET and privatizing the sector have left graduates with few high-quality employment options in a monopolized economy.
Calling for the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Gandhi asserted that supporting students in their push for educational reform is a moral, political, and constitutional duty.
