Centre Must Target Paper Leak Mafia, Not Students, Says Rahul Gandhi On Telegram Ban

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sharply criticised the Union Government over its decision to impose temporary restrictions on the messaging platform Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21. He described the move as ineffective and unfair to students, arguing that it targets users instead of addressing the alleged problem of paper leaks. The remarks come amid a wider political debate over examination security and digital regulation.

In a post on social media platform X, Gandhi compared the government’s approach to “hanging a lock on the victim’s door” instead of catching those responsible for malpractice. He said millions of students have relied on Telegram for academic preparation, including notes, test series, and discussions, and questioned how restricting access to such resources would help prevent exam-related fraud. He further alleged that the decision would disproportionately impact aspirants who depend on digital platforms for learning support.

The government has imposed temporary restrictions on Telegram until June 22, a move reportedly welcomed by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Authorities stated that the measure is aimed at curbing paper leaks, fraud, and misinformation targeting examination candidates. Officials have also directed the platform to disable its message-editing feature in India until June 30, citing concerns that it could be misused to fabricate or alter evidence related to examination leaks.

Also Read: Countries Introduce Laws To Ban Social Media Use For Children Under Safety Concerns

Gandhi further escalated his criticism by suggesting that the measure would not resolve the root cause of the issue. He argued that students are being subjected to unnecessary scrutiny while the alleged “paper leak mafia” continues to operate unchecked. In a pointed remark, he said that the government should focus on tackling the core problem rather than imposing restrictions on digital platforms used by students.

The Congress leader also highlighted concerns raised by students and shared accounts of individuals who reportedly resorted to unofficial or “pirated” sources to access study materials after disruptions on Telegram. He is scheduled to meet NEET aspirants in Kota, Rajasthan, as part of a broader nationwide outreach campaign focusing on education, employment, and examination transparency. The issue has also reached the judiciary, with Telegram challenging the restrictions in the Delhi High Court.

Also Read: Railways Rejects Rahul Gandhi’s Claim Of Bihar Train Student Death Incident