'Warning from students, Opposition': Rahul Gandhi warns of protests '10 times the scale' as he steps up attack on Centre after Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday described Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as a "victory" for students, while accusing Union Home Minister Amit Shah of authorising the use of pellet guns and other "lethal weapons" against student protesters.

Addressing the media after Pradhan stepped down amid nationwide protests over irregularities in the education system, Rahul Gandhi said the agitation had demonstrated the power of students standing up for democracy.

"First of all, this is the victory of our students. This is the future of India," Gandhi said.


Warning the Centre against ignoring the concerns raised by students and the Opposition, Gandhi said the resignation should not be viewed as the end of the matter.

"If you continue down this path, you will see 10 times the scale of what transpired," he said.

Calling the protests a broader message to the government, Gandhi added that the movement reflected growing public discontent.

"This is a warning from the students and the Opposition that the government cannot run India like its personal fiefdom," he said.

Pradhan was a symbol of a broken education system, says Rahul

The Congress MP said Pradhan had come to symbolise corruption, incompetence and the deterioration of India's education system.

"Pradhan is a symbol. A symbol of corruption, a symbol of destruction of the education system, a symbol of incompetence. He had to go. And it is good that he went," he said.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that India's education system had been systematically weakened over the years.

"The education system which used to be our pride, the whole world acknowledged that the education system of India is very good. It has been under attack for years. It is being captured, it is being privatised," he said.

He also linked the protests to rising unemployment, saying the demonstrations reflected the frustration of young people.

"This was a reaction to unemployment," he said.

Rahul accuses Amit Shah over use of pellet guns

Rahul Gandhi directly blamed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the alleged use of force against protesting students, claiming he had authorised the use of pellet guns.

"We hold Mr Amit Shah directly responsible. He authorised lethal weapons on our students," Gandhi said.

"He authorised the shooting of our students. He authorised the use of lethal weapons, pellet guns, on our students," he added.

The Congress leader said the Opposition would raise the issue in Parliament.

"For us, that is a fundamental issue. We will not accept our own forces shooting the future of India. So that is going to be a major issue in Parliament," he said.

RSS has hollowed out education system, Rahul alleges

Calling for wider reforms, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the RSS had taken control of India's education system and weakened it over time.

"The RSS's capture of the education system of India is a big issue. If it is Modi ji's fault, then the RSS is equally at fault," he said.

In Hindi, he added that the RSS had been "eating away at the education system like termites".

Rahul said the government must now move beyond Pradhan's resignation and undertake meaningful reforms.

"But now the government will have to take concrete steps to change the education system," he said.

Rahul says two student demands remain

The Congress leader argued that Pradhan's resignation addressed only one of the students' demands.


He said those responsible for the alleged violence against student protesters must be identified and action against them should be made public.

"Action should be made public," he said.

Rahul Gandhi also reiterated the demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologise to students who, according to him, were "brutalised and attacked" during the protests.

He also pledged continued support for the student movement.

"I will support the students of India, wherever and however they need it. The past was BJP and RSS, and the present will defeat the past," Gandhi said.

Congratulating the students who participated in the movement, Rahul Gandhi said they had fought not only for reforms in education but also for democracy and the Constitution.

"They fought for democracy. They fought for the future of this country. They defended the Constitution," he said, adding that their success should encourage farmers, workers and other sections of society to stand up for their rights.

Inputs from agencies