Rahul Gandhi Alleges RSS Has Taken Control of Education System, Urges Students to Defend Independent Thinking

New Delhi, July 2026 : Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), alleging that it had effectively taken control of India’s education system and was preventing students from thinking independently. Participating in the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Gandhi claimed that the RSS had become the “real force” behind educational policymaking and accused it of attempting to shape young minds according to its ideological beliefs.

Addressing the House, the Congress leader argued that India’s education system had become increasingly privatised and was placing enormous pressure on students instead of nurturing talent and encouraging critical thinking.

“Our education system is terrible and cruel. Everything is being privatised. It has become an extortion system and a brutal structure that does not serve students,” Gandhi said. “The soul of the education system has been captured by the RSS.”

Rahul Gandhi alleged that while former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had resigned, the change was merely symbolic because, according to him, the ministry was not actually being run by elected ministers.

Referring to earlier remarks made by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh that ministers generally do not resign, Gandhi claimed that the real authority lay elsewhere.

“Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation is only superficial because he was not the person running the ministry. The organisation that actually runs the Education Ministry is the RSS, and the individual exercising control is the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) sitting in the minister’s office,” he alleged.

The Congress MP further accused the RSS of attempting to impose what he described as a distorted interpretation of history on students rather than encouraging them to question ideas and develop independent opinions.

According to Gandhi, students across the country were increasingly frustrated because they were not being allowed to pursue their interests freely or ask difficult questions.

“The students are irritated because they are not allowed to be students in India. They are not allowed to follow their passion, express what they think or ask questions. Instead, they are expected to accept a version of history that the RSS imagines and imposes upon them,” he said.

Continuing his criticism, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the influence of the RSS extended across higher educational institutions, claiming that the organisation exercised considerable control over university leadership and administration.

“Students should know that every university today has vice-chancellors influenced by the RSS. Dharmendra Pradhan is only a symbol. Your real enemy is the RSS because they are not allowing you to remain students—they want you to become ‘Andhabhakts’ (blind followers),” he said.

Linking his remarks to the recent student protests over alleged examination irregularities, Gandhi described the demonstrations as a larger movement against attempts to dictate the aspirations and future of India’s youth.

He said the protests represented the determination of young people to think independently and resist ideological pressure.

“This movement is the voice of the soul of India saying that under no circumstances will we become blind followers. Under no circumstances will anyone define our future for us,” Gandhi said.

The Leader of the Opposition also praised the courage of the protesting students, saying they had shown remarkable resilience despite facing difficult circumstances.

“The parents of many of these children may not have had the courage to confront the BJP or the RSS, but these young students stood up with courage, imagination and conviction. They faced whatever was thrown at them because they believe in protecting their future,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi’s remarks came during an intense debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, with the functioning of the education system, examination reforms and accountability emerging as key issues discussed by both the government and the opposition.