PUNE: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi will visit Pune on August 22 to take part in the Congress’ ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ initiative and engage with students on issues concerning education.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal announced Gandhi’s visit on Friday, saying the Congress leader would interact with girl students and hear about the difficulties they face within the education system.
Sapkal said Gandhi had earlier participated in similar interactions in Kota, Dehradun and Prayagraj, where he spoke directly with students to understand their concerns. The Pune programme will follow the same format, with the focus on listening to students and discussing issues affecting their academic and career prospects.
The visit comes amid heightened political debate over matters concerning examinations, student welfare and educational opportunities. The Congress has been raising questions over the functioning of examination systems and has sought greater accountability from the Centre.
Gandhi’s interaction in Pune is also expected to touch upon concerns surrounding competitive examinations, including the NEET controversy, as the Opposition continues to demand measures to prevent irregularities and protect students.
The Congress’ student outreach campaign is aimed at establishing direct communication with young people and bringing their education-related concerns into the political discourse.
The August 22 programme is expected to provide Gandhi an opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from students while highlighting the Opposition’s position on education reforms and examination related issues.
