Rahul Gandhi will visit Kota on June 17 to interact directly with students and youth amid the ongoing NEET controversy, paper leak allegations and recruitment concerns. The Congress outreach programme, ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, aims to highlight challenges faced by aspirants and address growing demands for educational reforms.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Rajasthan’s Kota on Tuesday to interact with students and youth as part of the Congress party’s outreach programme, “Chhatron Ki Goonj”, against the backdrop of the ongoing NEET controversy, allegations of paper leaks and growing concerns over recruitment-related issues across the country.
The programme, scheduled to be held at Shriram Rangmanch in Kota’s Dussehra Ground, will commence at 5.30 p.m. and is expected to continue for nearly three hours. Unlike conventional political gatherings, Congress leaders have emphasized that the event will focus on direct interaction between Gandhi and students, allowing participants to share their experiences, concerns and suggestions regarding examinations, education policies and employment opportunities.
Party leaders stated that special arrangements have been made to ensure a more interactive atmosphere. Instead of a traditional stage setup, organisers are creating a dedicated corridor through which Rahul Gandhi will move among students and youth, enabling him to listen to their grievances firsthand.
The Congress has projected the event as a platform to understand the challenges confronting students and job aspirants, particularly after a series of controversies surrounding competitive examinations, alleged paper leaks and delays in recruitment processes. These issues have sparked nationwide debates and raised questions about transparency and fairness in the examination system.
Preparations for the high-profile event have intensified in Kota, widely known as India’s coaching capital. City Congress president Rakhi Gautam and Rural Congress president Bhanu Pratap Singh have been overseeing arrangements and coordinating with party workers to ensure the smooth conduct of the programme.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Govind Singh Dotasra accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of being unsettled by the public response to the programme. He alleged that publicity materials related to the event were being removed ahead of Gandhi’s arrival but asserted that such actions would not affect the gathering.
Dotasra also disclosed that while Rahul Gandhi is expected to travel to Kota by train, the party has prepared an alternative travel plan to avoid any disruption to the schedule.
“If the train is delayed, the programme schedule could be affected. Therefore, a Plan B has been put in place. Whether Rahul Gandhi arrives by train or charter aircraft, the programme will take place as scheduled,” he said.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also sharpened the Congress attack on the BJP-led government, claiming that repeated incidents of paper leaks and recruitment controversies have weakened the confidence of young people in the system. According to Gehlot, launching a student-focused movement from Kota carries symbolic significance because the city remains the epicentre of competitive examination preparation in India.
He further alleged that attempts were being made to create hurdles surrounding Gandhi’s visit but expressed confidence that the programme would witness significant participation from students and youth.
A review meeting held on Sunday was attended by AICC secretary and Rajasthan co-in-charge Poonam Paswan, along with local Congress leaders and party workers. During the meeting, responsibilities were assigned and final arrangements were reviewed.
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The event comes at a time when Kota continues to dominate national discussions on student welfare, examination reforms, mental health support and the future of competitive education. With concerns over NEET, recruitment examinations and paper leak allegations remaining key issues among aspirants, Rahul Gandhi’s interaction is expected to draw considerable attention from students, educators and political observers across the country.
The Congress leadership believes that the programme will provide a platform for young voices to be heard while bringing education and employment concerns into the centre of the national political discourse.
