Rahul Gandhi Says Focus Should Remain on Students, Not Him

'What happened to me is nothing,' Rahul Gandhi told reporters, stating that what happened to him during the protest was nothing. 

“Never mind me. “What happened to me doesn’t matter,” he said. “The real problem is what students are going through. The problems in the education system, the paper leaks, and the stress they are going through.

He called on media and political leaders to refocus their attention on the demands of protesting students across the country.

Focus on education  
Rahul Gandhi referred to the competitive exams, especially NEET, and the alleged paper leaks that have impacted thousands of students this year.

He said there was an urgent need to reform the education system so that the students can appear for the exams fearlessly and fairly. "Students are the future of this country. “If they don’t trust the system, we have a big problem,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Congress leader also met a group of students and listened to their grievances. He told them the party would take the matter to Parliament.

Political reactions remain 
His remarks have sparked a new political controversy. Congress leaders backed his statement, saying the government should answer questions over exam mismanagement.

BJP leaders, meanwhile, condemned the protest and alleged the opposition was politicising the issue. 

Student protests have been staged for more than a week now in Delhi, Mumbai and other cities, with the protesters demanding accountability and stronger action against those responsible for paper leaks.

With the Monsoon Session underway, education and student welfare issues are likely to figure on the agenda in Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi’s appeal to focus on students, and not political personalities, has struck a chord with many protestors who say their voices are often overlooked.