New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has issued a strong warning against the growing influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in India’s education system. Speaking at a student-led protest against the National Education Policy at Jantar Mantar, he claimed that if the RSS takes full control of the education sector, the country will face irreversible damage. Gandhi emphasized that while the INDIA bloc parties may have ideological differences, they all agree that education must remain independent and free from political interference. He alleged that RSS-affiliated individuals are being appointed to key academic positions, including vice-chancellors of universities, which could lead to a manipulated education system that prioritizes one ideology over diversity.
Criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi accused the government of neglecting critical issues like unemployment, inflation, and education reform. He claimed that the ruling party’s approach is to transfer national wealth to industrialists like Adani and Ambani while allowing the RSS to take over educational institutions. According to him, this strategy is designed to reshape India’s academic landscape to align with the RSS’s ideological vision, which promotes a singular historical and cultural narrative. He urged student organizations to actively resist these changes, warning that future appointments in state universities will likely be influenced by the RSS.
Gandhi also referenced the recent controversy surrounding the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) draft regulations on faculty appointments, which he described as a deliberate attempt to further the RSS’s control over educational institutions. He reiterated his stance that the RSS seeks to impose a uniform history, tradition, and language across the country, suppressing regional and cultural diversity. He assured students that the INDIA bloc will continue to fight against these policies and push back against any attempts to undermine the integrity of the education system.