Sachin Pilot alleges removal of banners, pressure on locals ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s Kota student interaction

Senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Wednesday alleged that local authorities had removed posters and banners related to party leader Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit to Kota, and that residents were being pressured to not attend the event. Pilot made the claims while speaking to media in the city, which is a major coaching hub for competitive examinations.

Rahul Gandhi is set to interact with students at an open theatre in Kota on Wednesday evening as part of the Congress party’s campaign focusing on paper leaks and issues concerning the youth. The event has sparked a political controversy in Rajasthan, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticising the timing, which comes just ahead of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) re-examination. The BJP has labelled the visit as “political tourism.”

The Congress has positioned the programme as the first in a series of nationwide student conventions aimed at understanding and addressing the challenges faced by aspirants. Pilot emphasised that the event would not be a political rally but a dialogue with students to discuss their concerns and explore possible solutions. He expressed confidence that a large number of students and youths would participate despite the alleged hurdles.

Pilot accused the government of trying to evade responsibility over examination system flaws, stating that “lakhs of children and their families have suffered due to flaws in the examination system.” He criticised what he called repeated irregularities in major examinations, asserting that these have affected lakhs of students and eroded public trust. Referring to the NEET controversy, he alleged that a paper leak had impacted around 22 lakh students and “shaken their confidence.” He further claimed that despite an investigation ordered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), there has been a lack of accountability and no effective action.

The NEET undergraduate examination was mired in controversy after allegations of a question paper leak and other irregularities surfaced, leading to protests across the country. The Central government and the National Testing Agency have faced criticism over the conduct of the exam. The CBI is currently investigating the matter.

The political exchange in Rajasthan underscores the broader national debate over examination reforms and student welfare. While the Congress seeks to highlight youth discontent, the BJP has accused the opposition of politicising exam-related issues. The interaction in Kota, a city synonymous with intense exam preparation, is expected to draw significant attention as students continue to voice their concerns over transparency and fairness in competitive testing.

Pilot, a former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan, has been vocal about exam reforms and has previously raised issues related to paper leaks. His statements on Wednesday reaffirm the Congress's intent to make student issues a focal point ahead of the next general election.