‘Money for lamps, none for girls' hostels?’ Rahul slams Modi

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the lack of adequate hostel facilities for female students, highlighting the financial and safety challenges faced by girls who leave their villages to pursue education in cities.

In a post on X, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha referred to a question raised by a student from a village during his Chhatron Ki Goonj student interaction programme in Indore. The student, who had moved to the city for studies, reportedly told Gandhi that the absence of hostel accommodation had forced her to live as a paying guest.

"'The government has money to light diyas - why not for our hostels?' This question was asked of me yesterday by a female student in Indore. She came to the city from a village to study," Rahul wrote on X.

Gandhi said the student was spending large amounts simply to secure safe accommodation, while also struggling to pay rent every month and living with the fear of suddenly becoming homeless. He drew on her experience to question the government’s priorities, asking why funds were available for other initiatives while students continued to struggle to secure hostel accommodation.

He also alleged that several girls across the country are forced to discontinue their education because they do not have a safe place to stay. Gandhi further raised concerns about housing allowances, alleging that they have failed to keep pace with inflation and are subject to corruption.

Congress media department chief Pawan Khera also targeted the Modi government while sharing Gandhi’s post. He mocked the government for spending on publicity, designer clothes, luxury cars, aircraft, and cosmetics, while, according to him, adequate attention was not being given to the education of young people.

At the Indore event, Gandhi had also alleged that the government fears students who ask questions and seeks to create people who spread hatred without thinking.