Indore, Madhya Pradesh: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said on Saturday that the "system" does not want students who question it, but instead prefers "Andhbhakts", as he interacted with students at the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Indore.

The interaction focused on concerns raised by students over recruitment delays, examination transparency and vacancies in Madhya Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi also criticised several institutions and individuals while speaking about what he described as the struggle against the existing "system".

"The struggle is against the system. What is this system? The system has various layers. At the top level sit six individuals who run it..." Rahul Gandhi said, while making allegations against several individuals and institutions.

He said students remain curious and fearless because they ask questions about issues affecting society and governance.

"The system feels threatened by students. Why? Because students ask questions. A student asks how Amit Shah’s son became the Chairman of the Cricket Association. A student asks how two individuals managed to capture the entire business landscape of India. A student asks why the judiciary and other institutions fail to do their jobs, or why the Election Commission isn't performing its duties," Rahul Gandhi added.

He further said the system does not want students who question it.

"That is why the system does not want students; it wants 'Andhbhakts'. An andhbhakt is the antithesis of a student. While a student asks questions and remains curious, an andhbhakt lives in a delusional world of their own. While a student is fearless, an andhbhakt is a coward."

Rahul Gandhi also linked his remarks to alleged irregularities in competitive examinations and paper leaks.

Rahul Gandhi further added that andhbhakts ignore paper leaks. "The 'andhbhakt' says development is not needed. Modi ji is an incarnation of Vishnu. But the andhbhakt never asks questions. An andhbhakt will never ask why the condition of our schools and colleges has become like this. Why has our infrastructure broken down? Why are our papers leaking? A student is the one who raises this voice," he said.

MPSC aspirants raise recruitment concerns

During the interaction, students raised concerns about recruitment delays, vacancies and transparency in examinations.

An aspirant of the Madhya Pradesh Public Service Commission (MPSC) told Rahul Gandhi that recruitment processes in the state had remained affected for nearly eight years, with 13 per cent of posts allegedly kept on hold across preliminary examinations, mains and interviews.

"Young people like me are left waiting. We are overage for eight years now. There are so many students across the state who are in a bad situation," the aspirant said.

The student also alleged that vacancies were not being filled and that several posts were being managed through contractual appointments.

"Look, the system here is such that we protest and demand that they open up recruitments, but the results just get put on hold. A lot of posts never even get announced and are just filled on a contract basis," the student said.

Another student, Sapna Gurjar from Rajgarh district, raised concerns over appointments linked to reservation issues. She claimed that around 10,000 posts had remained on hold for eight years and that thousands of candidates were still waiting for joining.

The 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' programme in Indore was organised as part of Rahul Gandhi's student-focused outreach, with education, recruitment, examination issues and unemployment among the concerns highlighted at the event.