Gehlot: BJP, Birla intimidating Kota centres over Rahul's NEET protest

Ashok Gehlot accuses BJP and Speaker Om Birla of intimidating Kota coaching centres and hostels to suppress student participation in Rahul Gandhi's upcoming event protesting the NEET-UG paper leak, calling it an attack on democracy.

Gehlot Accuses BJP, Om Birla of Intimidation

Ahead of Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's scheduled visit to Kota, senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has accused the BJP and the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla of intimidating coaching centre operators and local accommodation owners to suppress student participation.

In an X post, Gehlot claimed that the ruling party has "lost its composure" following "tremendous enthusiasm among students" for protest against the Centre over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.

कोटा में 17 जून को NEET पेपर लीक के विरोध में लोकसभा में नेता प्रतिपक्ष श्री @RahulGandhi विद्यार्थियों से संवाद करने आ रहे हैं। इस कार्यक्रम को लेकर विद्यार्थियों और कार्यकर्ताओं में बड़ा जोश है एवं बड़ी संख्या में स्टूडेंट्स इस कार्यक्रम में शामिल होना चाहते हैं। इस कार्यक्रम… — Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) June 15, 2026

"On June 17, in Kota, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Shri @RahulGandhi, is coming to engage in dialogue with the students in protest against the NEET paper leak. There is tremendous enthusiasm among students and activists regarding this program, and a large number of students want to participate in it", he said.

Condemning the alleged interference, Gehlot emphasised that such actions compromise the integrity of high constitutional offices and stifle democratic engagement.

"Seeing the enthusiasm of the youth for this program, the BJP has completely lost its composure, and calls are being made from the office of the Kota MP and the Lok Sabha Speaker to intimidate coaching institute operators, PG owners, and guest house managers, warning them that no students should attend this program from their premises. A person holding the dignified position of Speaker should not harbour such thinking. Such an attempt to obstruct the democratic process of dialogue between the Leader of the Opposition and the students in the Lok Sabha is highly condemnable", Gehlot added.

Rahul Gandhi to Lead Nationwide Student Conventions

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to spearhead a series of large student conventions across the country beginning in Kota on June 17, as the Congress steps up its campaign over alleged "examination scandals" and issues affecting youth.

According to Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, the events will later be held in Allahabad on July 10, Patna on July 11 and Delhi on July 14, bringing together students, job aspirants, youth organisations and educators.

"Rahul Gandhi will conduct a series of large student conventions starting with Kota (17 June), Allahabad (10 July), Patna (11 July) and Delhi (14 July), bringing together students, aspirants, youth organisations, educators, and all those directly affected by examination scandals," Venugopal said.

(ANI)

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