'We owe them our solidarity': Rahul writes to ally Soren over student protests

NEW DELHI: In a letter dated August 14 but made public on Monday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended his solidarity to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren regarding student protests over alleged irregularities in the state's recruitment examinations. Rahul characterized the students' agitation as peaceful and their demands as legitimate, emphasizing that the right to peaceful protest is a cornerstone of Indian democracy.

The Congress party has been offering its full support to students protesting paper leaks and irregularities in the education system over the past few months. In the letter to Soren, Rahul lamented that the Indian education system, once robust, had been transformed into a tool for the exploitation and oppression of students by the RSS and BJP.

He expressed appreciation for the Jharkhand government's dialogue with the students through a committee instituted by the Chief Minister, noting that there was agreement on several demands raised by the students. However, protests continued, with some students on an indefinite hunger strike. Rahul stressed that the youth of India are its future and urged Soren to listen to their concerns and take appropriate action to resolve the issue.

As part of the JMM-led ruling coalition in Jharkhand, Hemant Soren heads the alliance government in the state.