'152 papers leaked in last 10 years, Centre destroyed education sector, PM should apologise'

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has intensified his attack on the central government over the student protests in the national capital. Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in Delhi, he said the students were protesting for a valid reason and accused the government of attacking them.

Rahul alleged that the education sector in the country has been destroyed under the current government. He also demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, calling him "corrupt and incompetent."

Rahul Gandhi claimed that at least 152 question paper leaks had taken place across the country over the past 10 years and alleged that no one had been held accountable. Citing data, he said the figures showed that, on average, one question paper leak had occurred every month during the last decade. "The leaks have affected the future of millions of students. Despite such large-scale irregularities, not a single person had been punished in connection with question paper leaks over the past 10 years," Rahul said.

Rahul also said that education in the country had become too expensive for poor and middle-class families. "Students preparing for the NEET examination spend around Rs 1.32 lakh crore every year on coaching alone. This amount is almost equal to the Union government's total education budget of Rs 1.4 lakh crore. The education system had been manipulated in a way that excluded poor and middle-class students," he said.

Rahul Gandhi also demanded strict action against the police personnel who allegedly assaulted students protesting in Delhi on Monday. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should apologise for the police action against the students. Responding to a question about the force used against him by the police during the protest outside the Prime Minister's residence on Tuesday, Rahul said being physically assaulted was not an issue for him.

"It is an honour for me to be the voice of students. I am not worried about the blows I received or the way I was treated. What matters is not how the government treats me, but the demands of the students and their future," Rahul Gandhi said.