Rahul Gandhi Slams Delhi Police Lathi Charge on SSC Aspirants at Ramlila Maidan
New Delhi, Aug 25 (TTP): A massive protest by SSC aspirants and teachers at Delhi’s historic Ramlila Maidan turned violent on Sunday after police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse demonstrators demanding justice over alleged irregularities in government exams and recruitment. The incident has sparked a political storm, with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra strongly condemning the police action and accusing the Modi government of “betraying the youth.”
Thousands Gather to Protest Against Exam Irregularities
The protest, organized by SSC aspirants and teachers, began peacefully in the morning. According to officials, nearly 15,000 protestors had gathered at Ramlila Maidan to highlight alleged exam paper leaks, recruitment scams, and irregularities in government hiring processes.
Protestors carried placards demanding fair examinations, transparent recruitments, and justice for unemployed youth. Many chanted slogans like “Naukri Do, Nyay Do” (Give us jobs, give us justice).
By evening, most of the protestors had dispersed, but around 100 demonstrators stayed back, leading to a tense standoff with the Delhi Police. Officials said repeated requests to vacate the ground after the permitted time failed, and when verbal altercations escalated, police used batons to disperse the crowd.
According to eyewitnesses, several students and teachers sustained injuries during the lathi charge. The police confirmed the detention of at least 44 protestors.
Rahul Gandhi: “Hallmark of a Cowardly Government”
Reacting sharply to the crackdown, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of being anti-youth. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“The brutal lathi charge on SSC aspirants and teachers peacefully protesting in Ramleela Maidan — not just shameful, but the hallmark of a cowardly government. The youth had only demanded their rights — employment and justice. What did they get? Lathis.”
Gandhi alleged that the Modi government was not only ignoring the demands of the youth but also systematically “stealing their future.”
“This government didn't come to power on the votes of the people, but by stealing votes. First, they'll steal votes, then, they'll steal exams, then, they'll steal jobs, then, they'll crush both your rights and your voice!” he said.
Rahul Gandhi further urged young people to “stand firm and fight back” against what he described as a regime that prioritizes neither jobs nor justice.
Priyanka Gandhi: “Inhuman and Shameful”
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also condemned the police action in strong words.
“The use of police force against SSC students protesting at Delhi's Ramlila Maidan is inhuman and shameful. In every exam, there is rigging; in every recruitment, there is a scam, and paper leaks have left the youth of the entire country tormented,” she posted on X.
She accused the BJP government of rampant corruption in recruitment and examinations, saying that the future of millions of students was being destroyed.
“Instead of fixing it and listening to the youth, raining lathis on them is unfortunate. Instead of being cruel to the students, their concerns should be heard,” she added.
Delhi Police Version of Events
Police officials defended their actions, claiming that the use of force was a last resort.
According to a senior officer, protestors had been informed in advance about the permissible protest timings. “The majority dispersed peacefully, but around 100 people refused to leave and began raising provocative slogans. We attempted negotiation for nearly an hour. When they refused to vacate and tensions escalated, we used minimum force to disperse them,” the officer said.
Officials have confirmed that those detained were later released, but an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Background: Longstanding Student Grievances
This is not the first time exam-related protests have rocked India. In the past decade, several competitive exams — including SSC, Railway Recruitment Board (RRB), and state-level tests — have faced allegations of paper leaks, scams, and irregularities.
The issue has sparked repeated protests by students demanding transparent processes. In 2018, SSC aspirants staged an indefinite protest at CGO Complex in Delhi after allegations of mass cheating in the SSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) exam.
Education experts point out that the scale of unemployment in India makes exam integrity a sensitive issue. According to the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), youth unemployment in India stood at around 17.4% in 2024, with competition for government jobs reaching record highs.
Political Reactions Beyond Congress
While Congress leaders led the charge against the government, other opposition parties also raised questions about the lathi charge. Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticized the “criminalization of student protests” and called for accountability from the central government.
The ruling BJP, however, has defended the police action. Party spokespersons argued that law and order cannot be compromised and accused the opposition of politicizing the issue.
Key Quotes from the Protest
- “We only wanted to be heard. Instead, we were beaten.” — An SSC aspirant from Uttar Pradesh.
- “The government promised jobs, but what we got are scams and lathis.” — A protestor at Ramlila Maidan.
- “We had no choice but to disperse the crowd when they refused repeated requests.” — Delhi Police official.
Implications for Youth and Politics
The crackdown at Ramlila Maidan may further deepen the growing discontent among India’s unemployed youth. With general elections approaching in 2026, youth-centric issues like job creation, fair recruitment, and exam reforms are likely to dominate the political narrative.
Analysts say the opposition will seek to leverage such incidents to corner the government on its employment record. At the same time, the government faces increasing pressure to ensure exam transparency and prevent future leaks or scams.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople
The lathi charge on SSC aspirants and teachers at Ramlila Maidan highlights a recurring and painful cycle — young Indians rallying for jobs and justice, only to be met with force instead of solutions. While political parties battle over blame, the real issue remains unresolved: ensuring that India’s examination and recruitment systems are transparent, accountable, and fair.
For the country’s millions of aspirants, the demand is not extraordinary — it is simply for a future based on merit and opportunity.