Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, is set to launch the Indian National Congress's nationwide 'Chhatron ki Goonj' agitation from Kota, Rajasthan on Wednesday, 18 June 2025, targeting recurring paper leaks, examination irregularities, and rising unemployment among India's youth. The campaign, announced under the joint leadership of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Gandhi, will see the Leader of Opposition engage directly with students and competitive exam aspirants across multiple cities in its first phase.

What the Campaign Covers

The 'Chhatron ki Goonj' — loosely translated as 'Echo of Students' — is designed to amplify grievances around paper leaks, opaque recruitment processes, rising examination costs, and the broader lack of transparency in India's education and employment system, according to party leaders. The Congress aims to mobilise students, job aspirants, teachers, and youth organisations through a series of conventions.

Kota was deliberately chosen as the launch city. Kota District Congress President Rakhi Gautam and Kota Rural Congress President Bhanu Pratap Singh noted that the city — India's most prominent coaching hub — symbolises the aspirations and anxieties of millions of competitive exam candidates. They added that Gandhi had been invited to visit Kota during a recent conference held in Pushkar.

Gandhi's Message to Students

Ahead of the Kota event, Gandhi reached out directly to students on social media platform X, acknowledging their frustration. 'I know you're exhausted. You're angry. But remember this — when the government refuses to listen, you have to raise your voice louder,' he wrote.

He added: 'Let's come together and become a roar that can't be ignored. Starting from Kota — then reaching every corner of the country. This is a fight for your future. And I'm with you.'

Phase One: Four Cities, Four Dates

All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal outlined the first phase of the campaign. Following the Kota launch, Gandhi will address student conventions in Allahabad on 10 July, Patna on 11 July, and Delhi on 14 July. An AICC team has already arrived in Kota to inspect potential venues and oversee logistical arrangements.

Venugopal said the events would bring together 'students, competitive exam aspirants, educators, youth organisations, and others affected by examination-related controversies,' with the goal of drawing national attention to systemic failures in the recruitment pipeline.

Support from Senior Congress Leaders

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot expressed backing for the campaign on X, framing it as a broader resistance against what the Congress describes as shortcomings in the Narendra Modi government's education policy. 'Our fight for education, opportunities, and the future of India's youth will continue. The resistance continues,' Gehlot wrote.

The Congress has consistently alleged that recurring paper leaks — including high-profile controversies surrounding national-level examinations — have derailed the careers of millions of aspirants, and that the government has failed to institute credible accountability mechanisms.

What Comes Next

With the first phase spanning four cities through mid-July, the Congress is positioning 'Chhatron ki Goonj' as a sustained national movement rather than a one-off protest. Whether it translates into electoral pressure on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will depend on student turnout and the campaign's ability to stay in the news cycle beyond the convention circuit.