Chennai: “Prime Minister Modi wants to rule the country by using fear, hatred, and division. The drama he has been staging for the past 15 years has now come to an end,” said Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi.
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, has been speaking with students affected by irregularities in the Indian education system, exam paper leaks including NEET, rising tuition fees, and unemployment through a program called ‘Voice of Students.’ Accordingly, Rahul Gandhi spoke before students yesterday at Island Grounds in Chennai.
Then he said: Whenever I come to this land, I leave having learned something either from you or from the wisdom of Tamil Nadu. A full-scale attack is being carried out on Tamil Nadu and on Tamil culture. Through the new education policy, the Central government has withheld Rs. 3,300 crore that should have come to Tamil Nadu. Due to the NEET exam, the share of Tamil-medium students in MBBS seats has fallen by 87 percent.
By forcing RSS people into universities through the Governor, 70 percent of state universities are functioning without vice-chancellors. Union Minister Amit Shah openly says that the Tamil language is second-class. They are trying to suppress Tamil Nadu’s voice through delimitation. We will never allow any of this.
They have withheld Rs. 3,300 crore in education funds for Tamil Nadu under the language imposition issue. There are no vice-chancellors in 70 percent of the universities. The Tamil Nadu Governor, who has withheld this, wants RSS members appointed to your educational institutions so that they can run them. In delimitation, they want to reduce Tamil Nadu’s number of MPs in Parliament as well. But they cannot even touch Tamil Nadu.
Prime Minister Modi wants to rule the country by using fear, hatred, and division. The drama he has been staging for the past 15 years has now come to an end. The opposition parties have surrounded him. He is certain to be brought before the law for the crimes he has committed against the nation.
No matter how powerful Modi may be, no one can suppress the voice of the students or the soul of this nation. Students, you do not need to be afraid; we are with you. Protect your future, and examine and understand everything critically. Together, we will bring down Modi. He said this.
Continuing, student Indrapriyan said, “Periyar should not be seen merely as an atheist; everyone should read him as a leader who fought for social justice and women’s liberation.”
Then Rahul Gandhi interrupted and asked, “What would Periyar have said to those who say that questions should never be asked anywhere and that everything must be believed blindly? What would Periyar have said to Modi?” In response, Indirapriyan said, “Periyar would have told Modi that one must oppose patriarchy, religion, and caste arrogance and uphold humanity as the foremost value.”

Rahul Gandhi having tea with Chief Minister Vijay at a restaurant in Balavakkam.
Lunch hosted by Chief Minister Vijay
Rahul Gandhi arrived in Chennai yesterday to take part in and speak at the “Students’ Voice” event. From the airport, Rahul went directly by car to Chief Minister Vijay’s house in Neelankarai. Chief Minister Vijay, who came to the entrance to welcome him, hosted a lunch at his residence.
It is said that after this, the two held discussions for about an hour alone, without party functionaries, regarding the current political situation and the next steps. In particular, a minor stir has been continuing between the TVK and the Congress over the prime ministerial candidate.
It is being discussed in political circles that this meeting was held to put an end to this. In addition, reports have emerged that Rahul conveyed his congratulations to Chief Minister Vijay for winning the by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram. After this meeting, the two traveled in the same car. They then went to the famous 7 Padal Cafe restaurant in Palavakkam, owned by cricketer Dhoni, and had tea together.
