‘Poll Traitors will not be spared’: RG

metro india news  I 

Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Saturday reiterated that PM Modi. HM Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval, CEC Gyanesh Kumar and others who have committed the Vote Chori will not be spared. He said there is more information with foolproof evidence on the matter, and there was no question of going back on the matter.

explained about the importance of curiosity and questioning. “Curiosity is asking questions, democracy is your right to ask questions. The Constitution protects your right to ask questions, and the vote ensures that you get answers from the people who lead you, who run your governments,” he told the gathering. He linked curiosity to culture, history and land, describing it as the foundation of progress, innovation, art and business. Questioning, he said, forms the basis of both curiosity and advancement.

He accused the proposed delimitation exercise of targeting Tamil Nadu and described a broader assault on Tamil identity. “What we are seeing is a full-scale attack on Tamil culture, language and history,” Gandhi said, adding that he would not allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi to undermine those elements. He connected the delimitation debate to concerns over the state’s political voice and cultural heritage

He engaged students in a direct interaction at Island Grounds here on Saturday as part of the sixth edition of the party’s nationwide “Chhatron Ki Goonj” (Voice of Students) outreach, known in Tamil as Maanavargalin Kural. 

The programme, restricted to registered participants holding QR codes, drew thousands of college students from institutions across Tamil Nadu, including Loyola College, Women’s Christian College, Madras Christian College and Pachaiyappa’s College. Organisers reported more than one lakh online registrations, though entry was limited to selected students. Musical performances by artists including Arivu and the band Thaikkudam Bridge preceded the interaction.⁠

Rahul Gandhi arrived in Chennai earlier in the day and first held a roughly one-hour meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), at the chief minister’s Neelankarai residence. The two later continued discussions over coffee at a cafe in the area. Sources described the talks as covering political issues. The meeting marked their first detailed interaction since TVK joined the Secular Social Justice Victory (SSJV) alliance, which includes Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, and since Vijay’s swearing-in as chief minister in May.

The interaction focused on issues raised by Tamil Nadu students, including the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), unemployment, education for girls and women, rising costs of coaching and education, examination irregularities and the Union government’s education policy. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore had earlier said the session would address these concerns in an interactive format rather than a conventional speech. Students from various competitive examination streams were among those present.⁠

“Chhatron Ki Goonj” began on June 17 in Kota, Rajasthan, and has since been held in Dehradun, Prayagraj, Indore and other locations. Congress presents the series as a platform for students to discuss paper leaks, recruitment challenges, job scarcity and systemic pressures in higher education. The Chennai edition marked its first major stop in South India.⁠

Security arrangements included substantial police deployment at the venue. Entry was strictly controlled, with separate arrangements for students and leaders; parents and the general public were not permitted. The event formed part of Congress’s broader youth outreach ahead of future electoral contests, even as political attention in the state also focused on alliance dynamics within the SSJV.⁠

Rahul Gandhi’s visit underscored the party’s emphasis on engaging young voters on education and employment while strengthening ties with regional partners. Students used the platform to voice personal experiences and systemic grievances, consistent with the programme’s stated aim of restoring hope in the education system through open dialogue. The live session was streamed on official channels, allowing wider participation beyond the physical crowd at Island Grounds.