Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav on Sunday, 20 September launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme, arguing that the Indian National Congress had done little for students during its 60 years in power and that no one was genuinely listening to student voices today.

Yadav's Remarks on 'Chhatron Ki Goonj'

Speaking to reporters, Yadav said: 'Across the country, there is no one listening to the Chhatron Ki Goonj. When they had the opportunity, they did not listen to the students' concerns. If students want their voices to be heard, they have to wander from place to place.'

He further invoked the historic student movement that originated in Bihar, arguing it was Congress's own failings with young people that triggered a political earthquake decades ago. 'For 60 years, the Congress Party has been in power, and students have faced the most difficulties. You may remember that the student movement began in Bihar, and due to the student movement, the government was completely wiped out from power in Bihar and several other states and across the country,' Yadav said.

What Rahul Gandhi Said in Indore

The remarks came a day after Rahul Gandhi addressed a large student gathering at the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event in Indore on Saturday, raising concerns over unemployment, examination irregularities, and what he described as the undue influence of a handful of industrialists on public institutions.

Gandhi alleged that institutions meant to protect universities and colleges were now working against students. 'The system has captured the entire country. It does not want students to raise questions,' he said. He added that students questioning the system — including on issues involving certain industrialists — were being opposed by what he called 'Andhbhakts', asserting that 'only students can wipe out violence and hatred from the country, not Andhbhakts.'

BJP's Broader Pushback

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader N. Ramchander Rao separately accused Congress of 'low-level politics', objecting to what he described as personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mother. Rao said political criticism should remain policy-focused. 'It is low-level politics by the Congress party that every time they try to humiliate or abuse... In politics and democracy, issues that are to be criticised or attacked should be political and related to policy matters,' he said.

The Wider Political Context

The exchange reflects a broader contest between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition over which political formation better represents student and youth interests. This comes amid sustained debate about exam paper leaks, youth unemployment, and the future of institutions such as the National Testing Agency (NTA). Notably, student grievances have proven electorally potent in Bihar historically, making Yadav's invocation of the state's student movement a pointed political signal rather than merely a historical reference.

With state assembly elections in the political calendar and youth issues commanding public attention, the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' event — and the counter-offensive it has triggered — is unlikely to be the last word on who owns the student agenda.