Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on 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 argued that the move would disproportionately affect students who rely on the platform for study materials, test preparation and academic discussions, and said it failed to address the root cause of examination paper leaks.

Gandhi criticised the government’s approach, describing it as an indirect and misplaced response to a serious systemic issue. Drawing a comparison, he said the action was similar to “locking the victim’s door instead of catching the thief,” adding that measures targeting communication platforms would not resolve the underlying problem of exam security breaches. He alleged that such decisions would end up penalising students rather than those responsible for malpractice.

The government has imposed temporary restrictions on Telegram until June 22, a move it says is aimed at curbing alleged paper leak networks, online fraud and the spread of misinformation affecting examination candidates. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has supported the decision, stating that such steps are necessary to safeguard the integrity and fairness of national-level competitive examinations, particularly in the wake of repeated concerns over leaks and irregularities.

Also Read: Congress Responds To DMK Criticism Of Rahul Gandhi, Raises Election Performance Question

Authorities have also reportedly directed Telegram to disable its message-editing feature for existing posts in India until June 30. Officials believe the feature could be misused to alter or manipulate content after publication, potentially creating false narratives or fabricated evidence linked to exam paper leaks. The restrictions are described as temporary and preventive in nature, intended to maintain transparency during the examination cycle.

Gandhi said that millions of students across India have been using Telegram for years as a key academic tool, accessing notes, mock tests and peer discussions. He questioned how restricting such a widely used platform could help resolve structural issues in the examination system. He further warned that if such an approach continues, other platforms like WhatsApp could also face similar restrictions in the future, raising concerns about escalating digital controls.

The Congress leader also criticised what he described as the government’s focus on restrictive measures rather than targeting the “paper leak mafia.” He said students are being made to suffer the consequences of administrative failures, while the core issue remains unaddressed. Gandhi urged the Prime Minister to take stronger action against those responsible for exam-related fraud and ensure accountability within the system. The remarks have added to the ongoing political debate over examination reforms, digital regulation and student welfare in India’s competitive education landscape.

Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Appeals To Youth For June 17 Kota Protest Against Paper Leaks