Jaipur

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to interact with students in Rajasthan’s coaching hub of Kota on Wednesday evening as part of the party’s campaign against examination irregularities, paper leaks and unemployment. The event has sparked a political controversy, with the BJP criticising its timing ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination and describing it as a political exercise.

The programme, which will be held at an open-air theatre in Kota, is being projected by the Congress as the first in a series of student-focused conventions to be organised across the country. According to party leaders, the initiative aims to draw attention to the challenges faced by students due to repeated examination controversies, rising costs of competitive exams and concerns over transparency in recruitment and educational processes.

The Congress has alleged that efforts were being made to prevent students from attending the event. Party leaders claimed that coaching institutes, paying guest accommodations and hostels in Kota had been contacted and advised against allowing students to participate. These allegations have not been officially confirmed.

Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot accused the state administration of removing posters and banners related to the programme while allowing publicity material for BJP events to remain in place. He alleged that the move reflected political pressure and an attempt to restrict participation.

“The removal of hoardings and pressure on educational institutions shows nervousness on the part of the ruling establishment. Students’ concerns cannot be suppressed through such measures,” Gehlot said.

The preparations for the event included street plays and outreach programmes aimed at encouraging student participation. Senior Congress leaders, including Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Tikaram Jully, have been actively involved in mobilising support.

Dotasra criticised the central government over recurring examination controversies and demanded accountability from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He questioned why no high-level inquiry had been ordered into repeated allegations of examination leaks.

The BJP, however, dismissed the programme as political opportunism. Senior BJP leader Rajendra Rathore accused the Congress of failing to address similar issues during its own tenure and described Rahul Gandhi’s visit as “political tourism”.

Some students have also expressed reservations about the timing of the event. With the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21, many aspirants are focused on preparation. One student said that while concerns over examination integrity remain important, attending a political event days before a crucial test may not be a priority for many candidates.

Congress leaders have maintained that the interaction will focus exclusively on student issues such as paper leaks, unemployment and examination reforms, and will not feature political speeches. The party expects around 10,000 students to attend the gathering.

Kota remains one of India’s largest centres for competitive exam preparation, with approximately 1.2 lakh students enrolled in coaching institutes for engineering and medical entrance examinations.

READ MORE: Fatima Husna proudly guides tourists through Hyderabad's history

The National Testing Agency is scheduled to conduct the NEET-UG re-examination on June 21 after the May 3 test was cancelled following allegations of a paper leak. The matter is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation.