Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Friday alleged that opposition to party MP Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme scheduled to be held in Pune on August 22 reflected an attempt to suppress voices seeking reforms in the education sector.
Addressing a press conference in Pune on the eve of the event, he hit out at the government for its "failure" to address problems faced by the students and the education system, including unemployment and examination-related irregularities.
Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, will host the third edition of his interactive student dialogue initiative 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' in Pune city on Saturday evening. This particular edition focuses primarily on female students. The police have granted permission for the event to take place under 30 strict conditions.
Kumar said those opposing the event represent the same mindset that had opposed social reformer Savitribai Phule and thrown dung at her when she started a school for girls.
"Opposition to the programme reflects an attempt to suppress voices seeking reforms in the education sector. Those who are opposing the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' are the same people with the mindset of those who had thrown dung at Savitribai Phule when she started the first school for girls in Pune," Kumar said.
Today, the same mindset is damaging the education system of the country, he alleged.
"In a country where every day two youths commit suicide and 25 schools are closed," he said, adding that the government was incapable of handling the situation.
"Their only slogan is 'na padhenge, na padhne denge' (won't study and won't let anyone study)," he said.
Kumar, who serves as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of the National Students' Union of India (NSUI), also alleged that the education system was being pushed towards "farziwada" (fraud), and claimed that those advocating such changes were themselves facing questions over their educational qualifications.
He said the Pune edition of 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' was aimed at giving students, particularly young women, a platform to raise issues concerning education, safety, equality and career opportunities.
Kumar also alleged that attempts were being made to create hurdles for the programme, but asserted that the event would be held nonetheless.
The Congress has been using 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' as a nationwide campaign to highlight student-related issues and concerns over India's education system. The campaign was launched in Kota in June and subsequently held in Dehradun and Prayagraj before the Pune edition.
(With inputs from PTI)