Rahul Gandhi Claims Police Officer Quietly Told Him, 'Is Sarkar Ko Hatao' During Detention

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Centre over repeated examination paper leaks, alleging that 152 such incidents have taken place over the past decade, severely damaging India's education system and shattering the trust of students and parents.

Speaking after being detained during a protest over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, Gandhi claimed that around 7.5 crore students and their families have been affected by recurring paper leaks, forcing many aspirants to repeatedly prepare for re-examinations despite investing significant time, money and effort.

Calling the situation "pure theft" from middle-class and poor families, Gandhi alleged that, on average, an examination paper is leaked every month, leaving lakhs of students uncertain about their future. He further claimed that despite 152 paper leak cases in the last 10 years, there have been zero convictions, questioning the government's handling of the issue and alleging that those responsible have escaped accountability.

Gandhi alleged that repeated paper leaks have destroyed one of India's greatest strengths — its education system. Referring to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), he claimed that families spend nearly ₹1.32 lakh crore every year on the examination process, and that the financial burden, coupled with repeated leaks, has eroded confidence in the country's examination system.

Demanding accountability, Gandhi said Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should be removed from office, alleging that he had failed to protect the integrity of India's examination system. He also accused the minister of corruption and claimed that the recurring examination leaks demonstrated his inability to manage the education sector.

The Congress leader also called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to students, saying that as the head of the government, he was ultimately accountable for the repeated examination failures.

Gandhi further alleged that students protesting against paper leaks had faced excessive police action, claiming they were lathi-charged, had rifles pointed at them, suffered broken legs and were subjected to pellet guns. He asserted that the protesters were students seeking justice, not enemies of the nation, and demanded action against every person responsible for the alleged use of force.

Accusing the government of suppressing debate on the issue, Gandhi said the Opposition had requested Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to allow a discussion on the examination paper leak issue in Parliament. According to him, the Speaker said he would consult the government, but no discussion was subsequently permitted, which Gandhi described as an attempt to ignore students' concerns.

Concluding his remarks, Gandhi reiterated that removing Dharmendra Pradhan remains the primary demand of protesting students and said the Opposition would continue to stand with them in their fight for justice.

In a fresh claim after his detention, Gandhi also alleged that police personnel who escorted him away from the protest site quietly told him, "This government must go." He said the remark reflected a wider public sentiment, adding that "everyone is aware of the reality." He also demanded an independent inquiry into both the alleged examination irregularities and the police action against protesting students.