Kharge accuses Modi government of 'destroying youth future', pitches education-to-employment roadmap

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday accused the Modi government of “destroying” the future of students and called on his party to prepare a comprehensive “Education-to-Employment Roadmap” for the youth. He was delivering his opening remarks at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi.

Kharge alleged that over the past 12 years, the government had devastated the prospects of young Indians. “Instead of new schools opening, 94,000 schools have closed in recent years. Driven by the race for privatisation, higher education is becoming increasingly expensive and out of reach for ordinary families,” he said.

The Congress chief further claimed that educational institutions are increasingly being influenced by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) affiliates. He also pointed to widespread problems faced by job seekers, including paper leaks, recruitment exam scams, and delays in appointments.

“The anger that has arisen among the youth across the country is not a sudden or one-day phenomenon. This government has never had the time to listen to them; instead, it has consistently sought temporary measures to sidestep the issues. Consequently, they have been forced to take to the streets,” Kharge said.

He asserted that the Congress has incorporated the concerns of the youth into its agenda, adding that Rahul Gandhi has brought their voices to the national stage through the “Chhatron ki Goonj” programme. Kharge also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for evading questions in Parliament during the Monsoon Session, saying they are now prioritising non-issues over the questions raised by the youth.

On the Ram temple issue, Kharge questioned the Prime Minister’s silence over the alleged theft of donations. He said the Prime Minister had announced the formation of the trust for the temple’s construction and had appointed his own people to it, leading ordinary people to donate generously in good faith. “Yet, a massive scam has come to light. People are asking questions, but Modi ji remains consistently silent,” he said.

Kharge demanded that the Prime Minister apologise to the faithful public and provide answers about the offerings received and their accounting. He said the matter would not be resolved merely by sending a few low-level individuals to jail. “The more the BJP attempts to divert attention from this issue, the deeper the public's suspicion will grow,” he added.

Turning to national security, Kharge expressed concern about reports of Chinese encroachment along India’s borders. He stressed that national security should never be used for political purposes, nor to prevent citizens from asking legitimate questions.

The CWC is the Congress party's highest decision-making body, and this meeting is seen as part of the party's preparations for upcoming electoral challenges. The government has not yet responded to the allegations made by Kharge.