Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday, 24 July launched a sharp attack on the Central government over its handling of student protests linked to examination paper leaks, alleging that India's education system was in the grip of a deep, structural crisis. Her criticism came through a column published in The Hindu, which the Indian National Congress (INC) shared on its official social media handle.

What Sonia Gandhi Said

In her article titled 'An Education System's Collapse, Young India's Trauma', Gandhi argued that student agitations demanding accountability and examination reforms had gathered momentum across the country. She alleged that the government's response to peaceful dissent had been disproportionate, writing: 'The Narendra Modi government has responded to their courage with cowardice and wanton cruelty, treating them not as inheritors of the future but as enemies of the nation.'

Referring specifically to the 20 July demonstrations in New Delhi, she alleged that security forces resorted to force against protestors. 'The Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) sought to suppress them with uncalled-for violence, using brutal lathicharges and tear gas,' she wrote.

Allegations Against the NTA and Examination System

Gandhi trained her fire on the National Testing Agency (NTA), questioning its accountability and alleging that reforms recommended by parliamentary committees had not been adequately implemented. She contended that centralisation, privatisation, and politicisation had eroded the integrity of the testing architecture, and that repeated paper leaks had severely damaged students' trust in competitive examinations.

She also raised concerns about declining public investment in education and growing dependence on private institutions, arguing that these trends had compounded the pressure on students and their families — particularly those from economically weaker backgrounds.

Broader Pattern of Dissent, According to Gandhi

The Congress leader drew a wider pattern, alleging that the government's use of force against protestors was not an isolated incident. 'The Modi government routinely uses violence in preference to dialogue. The pattern is clear, from farmers to activists,' she wrote — a reference to earlier episodes of civil unrest, including the 2020-21 farmers' protests.

She also pointed to unemployment, intense competition, and limited opportunities as factors compounding student stress, arguing that young people were being asked to succeed in an increasingly demanding system without adequate institutional support.

The Constitutional Argument

Concluding her column, Gandhi framed solidarity with protesting students as a matter of democratic obligation. 'India's students have called the Modi regime's bluff. It is our moral, political, and constitutional duty to stand with them and safeguard their future,' she wrote.

The Congress separately stated that the government 'has not just degraded India's education landscape but has also made a habit of acting with utter impunity, supreme self-delusion, and abject insensitivity.'

Political Context

This comes amid a continuing national debate over examination paper leaks, student demonstrations, and the government's announcement of stricter legal measures against irregularities in competitive examinations. The controversy around the NTA and alleged irregularities in high-stakes tests such as NEET had already drawn parliamentary scrutiny before Gandhi's article added fresh political weight to the opposition's position. How the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responds to this latest salvo — and whether it offers any new accountability measures — will shape the next phase of this debate.