BHOPAL: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday emphasized the need to ‘stem the rot in the system’, alleging that “It does not want students to raise questions and hence, produces ‘andhabhakts’ (blind followers)”.
Addressing the fifth edition of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, a student outreach programme, in Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Mr. Gandhi alleged that the system has degenerated because the country is now run by hardly 500 people.
That’s the reason why the system felt threatened when the students raise questions, he said.
The system does not want students to raise questions and hence produces only ‘andhabhakts’, he alleged.
An ‘andhabhakt’ is the antithesis of a student.
He alleged that the institutions across the country have been taken control over by politicians, bureaucrats and business interests.
He said that the system which was designed to protect and help the students and preserve the sanctity of universities and educational institutions is attacking them.
He said this while responding to a student who raised questions over the functioning of universities and alleged lack of transparency.
The Congress leader said that the issues concerning the educational system must be addressed.
Mr. Gandhi also criticized the Centre for promoting privatization of education.
He alleged that 55 percent of government schools in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh closed down due to privatization of education.
The Congress leader also slammed low allocation to the education in the budget and claimed that it hit the education system.
Hardly 14 percent of students get hostel accommodation.
He ran the video clip on the collapse of Satya Niketan building, converted into a hostel for students, and said that this clearly indicated lack of education infrastructure.
Mr. Gandhi said that education is not a luxury, but a fundamental right of students and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure proper functioning of the education system.
The Congress leader said that he can produce evidence to establish the degeneration of the education system in the country.
He said that the previous UPA governments had given importance to education and earmarked 4.6 percent of the budget for education.
But now, education has become a low priority of the Centre with a 2.6 percent budgetary allocation for it, he said.
The student outreach programme has previously been held in Kota, Dehradun, Prayagraj and Pune.
Mr. Gandhi also visited the family of Delhi University student Arpit Jaj, slain in the hostel mishap in Delhi on September six, in Indore.