Published Oct 10, 2026 | 8:29 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 10, 2026 | 8:29 PM
Rahul Gandhi interacting with students at the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in Chennai. (@INCIndia/X)
Synopsis: At the sixth edition of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, Rahul Gandhi in Chennai invoked Periyar and Thiruvalluvar, criticised the Centre over NEET, Hindi imposition and delimitation. He also expressed solidarity with students protesting in Delhi, alleging that the Union government was suppressing dissent and failing to protect citizens’ fundamental rights.
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of undermining democracy, suppressing dissent and attacking Tamil Nadu’s language, culture and educational opportunities.
He was addressing students at Chhatron Ki Goonj (Voice of the Students), organised by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee at Chennai’s Island Grounds on Saturday, 10 October.
Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of attacking Tamil Nadu’s language, culture, history and traditions. (@INCIndia/X)
Invoking social reformer Periyar EV Ramasamy and poet Thiruvalluvar, Gandhi said curiosity and questioning were essential to education, social progress and democracy. He also expressed solidarity with students protesting in Delhi, alleging that the Union government was suppressing dissent and failing to protect citizens’ fundamental rights.
Earlier in the day, Gandhi met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the latter’s Neelankarai residence for lunch. However, Gandhi did not mention Vijay, the change of government, or the state’s recent political realignment at the Chhatron Ki Goonj address.
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Gandhi said he always returned from Tamil Nadu having learnt something from its people and their wisdom.
Referring to Periyar’s emphasis on independent thinking, he said students should not follow anything simply because someone else had said it, but should analyse and question everything. He also invoked Thiruvalluvar’s couplet comparing learning to digging a well in sandy soil: the deeper one digs, the more water emerges. Similarly, the more one learns, the more knowledge one gains.
Gandhi said curiosity empowered students to explore new ideas, make choices and imagine the future of themselves, their families and their State. He argued that language, culture, history, traditions and the land people came from formed the foundation of curiosity.
“Questioning is the foundation of curiosity. Questioning is also the foundation of progress,” he said, adding that businesses, countries, innovations and artistic achievements all began with questions.
Linking this to democracy, Gandhi said the Constitution protected citizens’ right to question those in power, while voting allowed them to demand answers from elected representatives.
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During an interaction, Gandhi asked a student what Periyar would have said to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The student responded by invoking Periyar’s principles, arguing that patriarchy, religious beliefs and the enslavement of women were not the strongest policies. The student said humanity was the strongest principle in the world.
Gandhi also invited S Manirathnam, the brother of S Anita, who had died by suicide after failing to clear the NEET medical entrance examination, onto the stage and interacted with him.
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Gandhi accused the Modi government of attacking Tamil Nadu’s language, culture, history and traditions. Referring to a video in which Union Home Minister Amit Shah allegedly advocated Hindi imposition, he said the Centre was treating Tamil identity as secondary to its own language and traditions.
Crowd at the 6th edition of ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ in Chennai. (@INCIndia/X)
He alleged that the Centre had withheld ₹ 3,300 crore from Tamil Nadu in connection with the National Education Policy. He claimed that the share of Tamil-medium students securing MBBS seats had fallen by 87% because of NEET.
Gandhi further alleged that 70% of Tamil Nadu’s state universities lacked vice-chancellors, accusing Governor RN Ravi of seeking to ensure RSS-affiliated individuals ran the institutions. He also warned that the proposed delimitation exercise could reduce Tamil Nadu’s representation in Parliament, describing it as an attempt to punish the State.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s ruling concerning the Governor’s decision to withhold assent to 10 Bills, Gandhi presented the dispute as part of a broader conflict between the state and the Union government.
Accusing Modi of using fear, hatred and division, he vowed to resist attempts to undermine Tamil identity.
“We are not going to let Narendra Modi attack the Tamil language, Tamil history, Tamil culture, nothing. He is not going to touch Tamil Nadu,” he said.
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Turning to national politics, Gandhi accused Modi of undermining democracy through what he called “vote chori” and “election chori”.
Referring to protests in Delhi, he alleged that the city had been shut down, internet services suspended, and students beaten up by the police. He also accused the BJP of unleashing its supporters to attack protesters.
Gandhi said the political situation was changing and asserted that the Opposition had increasingly challenged the Prime Minister. He named Union Home Minister Amit Shah, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat while accusing them of undermining democratic institutions.
He vowed to hold those responsible for alleged attacks on democracy accountable, saying no constitutional officeholder should be above the law, including the Prime Minister and Home Minister.
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Addressing concerns over student protests, including demonstrations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Gandhi alleged that thousands of students, journalists and lawyers had been arrested.
He questioned why the Union government and the Prime Minister were failing to protect the fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens, particularly students. He also criticised what he described as attacks on students’ dignity and freedom of expression.
“Nobody is going to be able to crush the spirit of this country, crush the students of this country,” he said, arguing that political power and financial resources could not permanently suppress people’s rights.
Gandhi alleged that international and financial forces had compromised Modi and were controlling him, adding that the Prime Minister was fighting for his political survival. He said the political mood among students and the work undertaken by Opposition parties over the past five to 10 years were catching up with the Prime Minister.
Assuring students protesting in Delhi and elsewhere that the Opposition stood with them, Gandhi said those responsible for alleged violations of democratic rights would be held accountable.
Concluding his address, he urged students to stand up for their beliefs and continue questioning those in power.
“Do not worry, stand up for everything you believe in, never stop asking questions,” he said, thanking the audience for its welcome and urging students to protect their future and remain curious.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
