Rahul Gandhi Criticizes Government's Telegram Ban Amid NEET-UG Paper Leak Concerns
In a recent statement, Rahul Gandhi condemned the Indian government's decision to ban Telegram amid concerns over the NEET-UG paper leak. He accused the administration of misdirecting its efforts by targeting students rather than addressing the root causes of the issue. Gandhi emphasized that millions of students rely on Telegram for their studies and that removing this resource will not solve the problem. He called for the government to focus on tackling the paper leak mafia instead of imposing restrictions on students. This critique comes after the National Testing Agency's request to block Telegram, citing its use by organized cheating rings. Read on for more insights into this developing story.
Jun 17, 2026, 16:37 IST
Rahul Gandhi's Strong Critique of Government Actions
On Wednesday, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, launched a fierce critique against the central government regarding the recent restrictions imposed on Telegram amidst concerns over the NEET-UG paper leak. He accused the government of targeting students instead of taking action against the paper leak mafia. This response follows the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to temporarily suspend the use of the Telegram platform in India, a ban that will remain in effect until June 22, 2026, coinciding with the rescheduled NEET (UG) 2026 examination.
Gandhi's Post on Social Media
In a post on X, Gandhi remarked that the ban on Telegram is merely a tactic by the Modi government to address the paper leak issue. He emphasized that instead of catching the culprits, the government is locking the door on the victims. He pointed out that millions of students have been using Telegram for their studies for years, and taking away this resource is not a solution to the paper leak problem.
He raised questions about the effectiveness of such measures, stating that this approach is not entirely secure—every student in the country is aware of this, as is the paper leak mafia. He sarcastically asked what the next ban would be on—WhatsApp? Commenting on the arrangements for examination day, Gandhi noted that students would be searched, pockets would be cut with scissors, and question papers would be sent via Air Force. He criticized the lack of real action against the root of the problem, as the paper leak mafia continues to thrive under the government's nose, causing immense distress to the youth.
A Call for Action Against the Mafia
Gandhi further urged Modi to stop the theatrics and focus on tackling the mafia instead of targeting students. He insisted that the voices of the students must be heard, warning that the youth of the country know how to fight for their rights. This statement comes in light of the central government's directive to block Telegram at the request of the NTA, which claimed that organized cheating rings were using the platform to mislead and defraud candidates preparing for the NEET-UG 2026 re-examination scheduled for June 21.
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