Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a victory for students and India's future, while cautioning the government that the protests reflected a much deeper crisis. He warned that if the Centre continued to ignore public concerns, similar agitations could erupt on a scale "ten times larger."
The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha also accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of being directly responsible for the violence against students, alleging that he had authorised the use of lethal force, including pellet guns.
"We hold Mr Amit Shah directly responsible for the violence against our students. He authorised the shooting of our students and the use of lethal weapons, including pellet guns," Rahul Gandhi said.
Calling the issue fundamental, he asserted that the Opposition would not accept security forces firing on the country's youth and said it would become a major issue in Parliament.
'Victory for students'
Rahul Gandhi hailed the resignation as a triumph for the students who led the protests, calling them the future of India.
He said India's education system, once respected globally, had been steadily undermined over the years through privatisation and institutional capture.
According to him, the protests were driven not only by concerns over education but also by rising unemployment and the broader condition of the country.
'Pradhan symbolised corruption'
Describing Dharmendra Pradhan as a symbol of the education system's failures, Rahul Gandhi accused him of representing corruption, incompetence, and the destruction of education.
While welcoming his resignation, he stressed that replacing the Education Minister alone would not solve the problem and urged the government to implement meaningful reforms.
Accuses RSS of undermining education
Rahul Gandhi also blamed the RSS for weakening India's education system, alleging that it had hollowed out institutions from within.
He said both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS shared responsibility for the current state of education, adding that restoring the system would require deep structural reforms.
Two key student demands remain
Rahul Gandhi said students were still awaiting action on two major demands.
The first was visible action against those who organised and carried out the alleged assault on students, ensuring those responsible were held accountable.
The second was an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which he said students had consistently demanded.
Holds Amit Shah responsible
Reiterating his earlier charge, Rahul Gandhi again blamed Amit Shah for the violence, alleging that he had authorised the use of pellet guns and other lethal measures against students.
He maintained that the matter would be raised prominently in Parliament.
'India's institutions have weakened'
Rahul Gandhi argued that the protests reflected a much broader crisis, claiming that India's systems for job creation, education, institutions, and media had deteriorated and were no longer functioning effectively.
He linked these institutional failures to the country's economic challenges, saying such systems become even more critical during periods of economic stress.
According to him, the protests were only the first sign of a much deeper problem.
Warns government of larger protests
Rahul Gandhi urged the government to listen to the concerns of the people, describing the protests as a warning from both students and the Opposition.
He said the country could not be governed as anyone's personal domain, emphasising that India belongs to its people and is guided by the Constitution, not any individual or organisation.
He warned that if the government continued on its current course, future protests could be far larger than those already witnessed.
'Future of India will prevail'
Thanking the students for their participation, Rahul Gandhi pledged the Congress party's full support to their movement and said the party stood committed to protecting both students and India's future.
He concluded by describing the political contest as one between "the past," represented by Narendra Modi and the RSS, and "the future of India," expressing confidence that the future would ultimately prevail.
