‘Our education system is for upper castes’: Rahul’s words irk BJP

Santiago: Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said that India’s social system is dominated by upper castes, when 90 per cent of its population comes from middle and lower castes, NDTV reported.

According to him, the history, traditions, and thinking of the middle and lower sections have not been given a place in education since the education system is for the upper castes. He said that he wanted to include the history and traditions of the tribal, middle, and lower castes in the education system.

He said that he wanted to protect students' curiosity in the education system, giving them space to ask questions, raise issues, and think openly without any constraints. The idea of free thinking, being open, being scientific, being logical, etc., is under “tremendous attack in India currently”, Rahul said.

He furthered that India’s education system has suffered greatly in the last ten years. Since the Narendra Modi-led BJP government does not believe in a scientific approach, scientific consciousness has been destroyed in India, he said. He said that he wanted to “correct it”.

However, as usual, an infuriated BJP has risen to the occasion to come down on Rahul. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed that Rahul Gandhi is not an opposition leader, but the leader of propaganda and hypocrisy. He also claimed that Rahul goes abroad and talks against India's constitutional bodies, democratic system, judiciary, and sovereignty.

"Rahul Gandhi says he is fighting against the Indian state. From opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he is now into spreading lies against India. He says there is no space for free thinking. That happens at your party. If someone speaks against Rahul Gandhi, what happens? Look At Shashi Tharoor. He was made an example of because he championed the cause of the country and its armed forces," NDTV quoted Poonawalla.