Don’t be afraid, stand up for what you believe in, Rahul tells agitating students
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi addressed students in Chennai, encouraging them to protest against the government despite crackdowns and detentions. He accused the current administration of undermining democracy and manipulating electoral processes.
Why it matters
The statement reflects the deepening divide between the Indian government and the opposition regarding democratic institutions and civil liberties.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday (October 10, 2026) urged the protesting students in New Delhi to carry on without fear and stand up for what they believe in, even in the face of a state crackdown through large-scale detentions and Internet shutdowns.
Speaking at a Maanavargalin Kural ( Chhatron Ki Goonj ) event in Chennai on Saturday, Mr. Gandhi said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attempting to silence dissenting voices through such crackdowns, oblivious of the fact that his “game is over”. “He is silencing voices, as you saw today in New Delhi. The entire city was shut down, Internet was shut down, police were beating students, the BJP released its own thugs and goondas who were beating and thrashing students,” Mr. Gandhi said to a large gathering of students and youth.
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