{
  "id": 13475741,
  "title": "Don’t be afraid, stand up for what you believe in, Rahul tells agitating students",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/dont-be-afraid-stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-rahul-tells-agitating",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T17:27:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/dont-be-afraid-stand-up-for-what-you-believe-in-rahul-tells-agitating-students/article71569152.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On October 10, 2026, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, encouraged protesting students in New Delhi to remain fearless and stand up for their beliefs, even amid a state crackdown involving widespread detentions and internet shutdowns. Addressing a Maanavargalin Kural event in Chennai, Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to silence dissent, expressing confidence that Modi's efforts to stifle opposition would ultimately fail.\n\nGandhi recounted instances of police brutality against students, journalists, and lawyers during the demonstrations in New Delhi. He clarified to students that they had nothing to fear, reassuring them that his party would ensure the perpetrators were held accountable. Gandhi further alleged that Modi was being influenced by \"financial forces, by international forces... they control Mr. Modi,\" and that he was fighting for his survival.\n\nThe opposition leader highlighted several grievances against the central government's policies, particularly its impact on Tamil Nadu. These included withholding ₹3,300 crore from schools for not adhering to the three-language policy outlined in the National Education Policy 2020, a 87% reduction in Tamil-medium MBBS seats due to NEET, and the removal of 78% of state-run university Vice-Chancellors by the Governor, who aimed to appoint RSS-affiliated individuals. Gandhi also criticized the delimitation policy, which he claimed was designed to weaken Tamil Nadu's representation in Parliament.\n\nRecalling the contributions of Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar and social activist-rationalist E.V. Ramasamy Periyar, Gandhi invited a follower of Periyar to consider how the latter would respond to Modi if they had met. The participant's response elicited cheers from the audience, with Periyar reportedly stating that humanity, not religion, caste, or patriarchy, should be embraced as noble principles.",
  "summary": "‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi attempting to silence dissenting voices through crackdowns’, said Mr. Gandhi",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}