Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), accusing the organisation of exerting undue influence over India's education system and attempting to shape students into "Andhabhakts" (blind adherents). Speaking during the discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, in Parliament, the Congress leader alleged that the country's education system had become increasingly privatised and was being controlled by the RSS rather than functioning independently.

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the education system had turned into what he described as an "extortion system" that was failing students. He alleged that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was not the real authority overseeing the ministry, asserting instead that the RSS exercised significant influence through officials within the ministry. According to Gandhi, merely seeking the minister's resignation would not address the larger issue, as he believed the organisation itself was driving education policy and administrative decisions.

The Congress MP further accused the RSS of promoting what he called a distorted version of history in educational institutions. He argued that students were being discouraged from pursuing their interests, asking critical questions, or thinking independently. Gandhi said young people were instead being compelled to accept a particular ideological narrative, which, in his view, undermined the purpose of education and restricted intellectual freedom within schools and universities.

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Expanding his criticism, Gandhi alleged that the RSS had a strong presence in the leadership of higher educational institutions across the country. He claimed that vice-chancellors of universities were being influenced by or associated with the organisation, making it the principal force shaping India's education system. Addressing students directly, he said the RSS, rather than the Education Minister, was their "real enemy" because it sought to transform them into unquestioning followers instead of encouraging independent thought and academic growth.

Concluding his remarks, Gandhi said the ongoing student movement reflected growing resistance against attempts to define the aspirations and future of India's youth. He praised students for standing up to what he described as ideological pressure from the BJP and the RSS, arguing that they had demonstrated courage by refusing to become "Andhabhakts." The BJP and the RSS have consistently rejected similar allegations in the past, maintaining that educational reforms are aimed at improving the quality of education and promoting India's cultural and historical heritage.

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