New Delhi, Aug 2026 : A political war of words erupted on Saturday over Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s youth outreach initiative, with BJP leader Gourav Vallabh accusing him of “competing” with Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) chief Abhijeet Dipke on issues concerning students.
The Opposition, however, hit back at the BJP, accusing it of failing to distinguish between “goons” and “Goonj”, in an apparent reference to the alleged attack on CJP members during their visit to a government school in Rajasthan.
The latest exchange followed Rahul Gandhi’s “Chhatron Ki Goonj” interaction with students in Pune, where he engaged with young people on education, social issues and their concerns about the future. Reacting to the programme, Vallabh questioned why Gandhi was not listening to students protesting over examination-related issues in Ranchi.
“The way Rahul Gandhi is attempting to spread anarchy by visiting subject-specific and city-specific areas, giving money and calling influencers in order to create an atmosphere, I have only one question for Rahul Gandhi: why can’t he hear the voice of students in Ranchi?” Vallabh said.
The BJP leader pointed to the political situation in Jharkhand, where Congress is part of the ruling coalition, and alleged that examinations were being cancelled, adversely affecting the future of students.
“In Ranchi, the Congress is a part of the coalition government. There, every examination is being cancelled. The future of an entire generation has been pushed into darkness,” he said.
Taking a direct swipe at Gandhi, Vallabh added that the Congress leader was “competing with the CJP” and specifically named its chief Abhijeet Dipke.
He further urged Gandhi to focus on students’ concerns rather than what he termed “Paiso Ki Goonj”. Vallabh said Gandhi should demonstrate his commitment to students by taking a stand on the political alliance in Jharkhand.
The BJP had earlier alleged that Congress was providing money to students to attend Gandhi’s outreach programmes. Vallabh claimed that the Congress was attempting to use students for political purposes, saying that the alleged strategy was being understood by the public as well as students.
Congress leaders strongly rejected the allegations. Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai said the BJP had initially described the “Chhatron Ki Goonj” programme as a failure but was now alleging that influencers had been brought in by spending money.
Rai maintained that no money was spent to bring students to the programme. He said students attended the event independently and challenged the BJP to ask students in Prayagraj whether they had been provided transportation.
“Students across the country have now awakened and the BJP will be dethroned,” Rai asserted.
Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray also came out in support of the student outreach initiative and accused the BJP of being “afraid” of students and their voices.
Referring to the alleged incident involving CJP members in Rajasthan, Thackeray said the BJP preferred “goons” over “Goonj”. He alleged that CJP members were attacked after attempting to highlight the condition of a government school.
“When the BJP learns to differentiate between ‘goons’ and ‘Goonj’, only then can they speak about the students,” Thackeray said.
The exchange highlights the growing political focus on youth issues, with both the BJP and Opposition seeking to position themselves as champions of students’ concerns ahead of upcoming electoral battles.
