Rahul Gandhi Slams Proposed Telegram Ban, Says Students Should Not Be Punished for Paper Leak Failures.
New Delhi:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday strongly criticized reports of a possible ban on Telegram as a measure to curb examination paper leaks, arguing that such a move would unfairly target students rather than those responsible for the crime.
In a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi-led central government, Gandhi described the proposed action as an attempt to penalize victims instead of tackling the root cause of the problem. He said millions of students across India have relied on Telegram for years to access study materials, notes, test series, academic discussions, and exam preparation resources.
Questioning the effectiveness of a ban, Gandhi argued that restricting access to the platform would not eliminate organized paper leak networks. “Instead of catching the thief, the government is locking the victim’s house,” he said, claiming that both students and paper leak operators know that such measures are unlikely to provide a foolproof solution.
The Congress leader also criticized what he termed as excessive focus on symbolic actions, including strict examination-day security measures, while failing to dismantle the alleged paper leak mafia. He accused the government of allowing such networks to flourish and causing immense hardship to young aspirants preparing for competitive examinations.
Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gandhi urged the government to focus on cracking down on those responsible for paper leaks rather than imposing restrictions that affect students. He also warned that the voices of students should not be ignored, emphasizing that the country’s youth are determined to fight for their rights and demand accountability.
