Rahul walks the talk amidst standoff with admn, meets students; faces FIRs

RAHUL GANDHI HAD A HEATED ARGUMENT WITH OFFICIALS WHEN HIS CONVOY WAS STOPPED

- Bishnu K Jha

DARBHANGA: Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, defying attempts by the district administration to stop him from attending the pre-scheduled programme at Ambedkar Welfare Hostel (AWH) on Thursday, addressed a gathering of dalit, backward, and underprivileged students while emphasising his commitment to not let any force succeed in excluding these marginalised communities from the education system or hindering their career aspirations.

Rahul Gandhi was in Darbhanga to launch 'Shiksha Nyay Samvad', an outreach programme of the party in Bihar.

Despite the restrictions, he eventually reached the hostel on foot and addressed the gathering, asserting that the administration had failed to stop him. "No one can stop me until the reservation facility is extended to private education institutions. We will continue to fight and move ahead, because you constitute 90% of the population. You must understand your strength," he said while addressing the crowd. Emphasising systemic exclusion, Gandhi added, "Whether it is the bureaucracy, the corporate sector, or the high courts—your representation is zero. By scaring, suppressing and distracting you, they try to keep you from progressing. But Bihar police could not stop me, because your power was with me."

Gandhi accused the ruling NDA government of suppressing the voices of the marginalised and preventing dialogue. "The government should increase spending on education, the 50% ceiling on reservation must be removed and reservation should be implemented in private education institutions as well," he stated.

"This government is against dalits, extremely backward classes, minorities, and adivasis. This government is against democracy, the Constitution, and the minorities. This is the government of Adani-Ambani and not yours" Gandhi alleged.