NEET row: Rahul Gandhi to meet Kota students on June 17

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will visit Kota, Rajasthan, on June 17 for his student-focused outreach programme Chhatron ki Goonj. The event, designed as an interactive dialogue rather than a political rally, comes amid rising concerns over NEET, paper leaks, and recruitment controversies.

Jaipur: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Rajasthan’s Kota on June 17 to interact with students and youth in his programme Chhatron ki Goonj amid growing concerns over NEET, paper leaks and recruitment-related issues.

The programme, scheduled at Shriram Rangmanch in Kota’s Dussehra Ground, will begin at 5.30 p.m. and continue for nearly three hours. Congress leaders said Gandhi will engage in a direct dialogue with students rather than address a conventional political rally.

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According to party leaders, no traditional stage has been planned for the event. Instead, a special corridor will be created to allow LoP Rahul Gandhi to move among students and listen to their concerns firsthand.

The outreach programme is being positioned as an effort to understand the challenges facing students and job aspirants, particularly in the wake of controversies surrounding competitive examinations and alleged paper leaks.

Preparations for the event have been intensified, with City Congress president Rakhi Gautam and Rural Congress president Bhanu Pratap Singh overseeing arrangements.

On Tuesday, PCC president of Rajasthan Govind Singh Dotasra addressed a press conference and accused the BJP of being rattled by the response to the programme. He alleged that authorities were removing publicity material ahead of the rally and said the event would proceed regardless of any hurdles. Dotasra also revealed that while Gandhi is expected to travel to Kota by train, a charter aircraft has been kept ready as a contingency plan.

“If the train is delayed, the programme schedule could be affected. Therefore, a Plan B has been put in place. Whether Rahul Gandhi arrives by train or charter, the programme will take place as scheduled,” he said.

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot sharpened the attack, arguing that repeated paper leaks and recruitment controversies have shattered young people’s faith in the system. He said launching a movement centred on students from Kota carries a powerful political message and alleged that attempts were being made to create obstacles around Gandhi’s visit.

A review meeting on Sunday was attended by AICC secretary and Rajasthan co-in-charge Poonam Paswan, local Congress leaders and party workers, during which responsibilities for the event were assigned.

The event comes as Kota, India’s largest coaching hub, remains at the centre of national conversations on competitive examinations, student welfare and educational reforms.