Rahul Gandhi warns Maharashtra govt: Listen to students or protests will grow

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said on Sunday that thousands of students are protesting peacefully in Maharashtra because their trust in the system has been shattered. He asserted that the BJP-led government must listen to their demands and act immediately, warning that the voice of the students, which he called 'Chhatron ki Goonj', will only grow louder if their concerns are ignored.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) in Hindi, Mr. Gandhi said the reasons for the protests go beyond a single examination or recruitment drive. "Whether it is the Central or State government, every student is tormented by the BJP government. Paper leaks, stalled recruitments, the unbearable cost of education, inhumane conditions in hostels, food like poison, fraud in DBT," he listed. He also alleged that the government has taken control of a constitutional body like the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) and destroyed its credibility.

He said every demand raised by students for a successful future is justified. "The government must listen to their voice and act immediately - otherwise, this 'Chhatron ki Goonj' will only grow louder until justice is served," he added.

Mr. Gandhi's remarks came after the Maharashtra government constituted a high-level committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing recruitment examination system in the state. According to an official statement, the committee has been tasked with suggesting measures to make the examination process more transparent, secure, reliable, and candidate-friendly.

The review will cover the entire examination process, including question paper preparation and scrutiny, confidentiality and secure handling of papers, examination centre management and security, use of technology, prevention of malpractices, coordination among various agencies, grievance redressal, and the overall examination experience of candidates.

Tribal students and job aspirants in Maharashtra have been holding protests over poor hostel conditions, student safety, and recent exam paper leaks. In response, the state government has accepted several key demands and set up the new examination reform panel.

The situation has drawn political reactions, with leaders from various parties calling for immediate resolution. However, no official response from the Maharashtra government to Mr. Gandhi's specific allegations has been reported so far.