As the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, announced his first phase of an interactive programme with students, a new controversy erupted, with a Congress
leader alleging non-cooperation from the BJP-led government over the publicity material, along with attempts to disrupt the programme. BJP has, however, dismissed his claims, calling them 'baseless.' According to former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, the Kota administration is removing hoardings of LoP Gandhi’s student interactive programme starting June 17, 2026. He alleged that the ruling party decided to get rid of the hoardings despite the Congress government’s cooperation regarding posters previously. He further claimed that these actions depict the BJP’s ‘nervousness’ over the programme, terming it a ‘political conspiracy.’ "Coaching institutes have been pressured, and students are being discouraged from attending the event," Gehlot said. Gehlot added that students in large numbers are expected to turn up for the programme scheduled for Kota on June 17, asserting that pulling off such moves won’t suppress the voices of distressed students. Hitting back at Gehlot, BJP member Rajendra Rathore asked for evidence confirming that coaching centres were issued warnings against sending students to the interactive programme. What Netizens Have to Say About This? Shortly after Gehlot's claims, the comment section filled with netizens sharing their insights. While some attacked the BJP for engaging in such activities, others shared a video pointing to a different narrative. “If a Congress hoarding is put up to cover an already installed hoarding, the hoarding will simply be removed. The video clearly shows how a hoarding was put up over an already installed hoarding,” one X user wrote.
For the uninitiated, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is launching a series of large-scale student conventions, bringing together students, aspirants, youth organisations, educators, and all those affected by the recent exam scandals, starting today, June 17, 2026.
"Under the guidance of the Hon’ble Congress President, Shri Mallikarjun Kharge, and the empowering leadership of Shri Rahul Gandhi, the Indian National Congress has announced the first phase of a nationwide campaign against the growing crisis of paper leaks, examination irregularities, unemployment, and the systematic betrayal of India’s youth by the Modi Government," the official statement of the Indian National Congress reads.
