The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday intensified its criticism of Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi after his proposed 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Prayagraj was cancelled, accusing him of bypassing Parliament in favour of "petty politics." The remarks came after the Kayastha Pathshala Trust revoked permission for the event, which was scheduled to be held on August 8 at KP Ground.

The trust cited an Allahabad High Court order and waterlogging at the venue as the reasons for cancelling the programme. Gandhi was expected to interact with students on issues such as alleged examination paper leaks, recruitment irregularities, and concerns affecting young job aspirants across the country.

Addressing reporters in the Parliament House complex, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh questioned Gandhi's decision to pursue political outreach programmes while the Monsoon Session of Parliament is underway. Chugh alleged that the Congress leader was avoiding participation in parliamentary debates, despite serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Chugh said Parliament remains the country's highest democratic institution and argued that issues concerning students and examination reforms should be raised and debated in the House rather than through political events outside it. According to Chugh, Gandhi's approach reflected an unwillingness to engage in constructive discussions on national issues within Parliament.

The BJP leader also accused the Congress of lacking substantive arguments on the issues it has raised against the Centre. Chugh claimed the opposition was reluctant to participate in parliamentary debates because its "lies and misleading narrative" would be exposed during detailed discussions. He further alleged that the Congress was attempting to gain political mileage by associating itself with student protests and demonstrations across the country. Referring to Gandhi's planned interaction with students, Chugh said the Congress was trying to "hijack" genuine student concerns for electoral purposes instead of contributing to policy discussions through democratic institutions.

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Expanding his criticism, Chugh accused the Congress of adopting a selective approach towards student issues. He alleged that while the party actively raises concerns over examination-related controversies at the national level, it fails to adequately address the grievances of students in states where it is part of the ruling alliance. He claimed that this reflected the Congress' "double standards" and questioned the sincerity of its campaign on education and recruitment issues. Chugh also alleged that the party's efforts to participate in student protests were politically motivated and intended to strengthen its electoral prospects rather than deliver meaningful solutions for affected candidates.

The cancellation of the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme has added another dimension to the ongoing political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress over examination paper leaks and recruitment irregularities. In recent months, the Congress has repeatedly targeted the Union government over alleged lapses in the conduct of competitive examinations, arguing that repeated paper leaks have undermined the future of millions of students.

Rahul Gandhi has made youth-related issues a central theme of his political outreach, meeting students and job aspirants in different parts of the country while demanding greater accountability and reforms in the examination system. The party has also called for stricter measures to prevent paper leaks and ensure transparency in recruitment processes.

The BJP, however, has consistently rejected the Congress' allegations, accusing the opposition of politicising sensitive issues involving students. The ruling party maintains that concerns relating to examination reforms should be discussed through established democratic institutions, including Parliament, rather than being used as campaign issues.

With Parliament in session and political exchanges intensifying, the cancellation of Gandhi's Prayagraj event has become the latest flashpoint in the broader battle between the BJP and the Congress over governance, accountability, and youth-focused issues. As both parties continue to trade allegations, examination reforms and student welfare are expected to remain key issues in the national political discourse in the coming months.

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