Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Congress Plans Grassroots Campaigns on Paper Leaks and Temple Donations
The Congress party held a large meeting about problems it says are affecting students and the country.
It plans to discuss exam paper leaks in villages and other local places.
It also wants to raise allegations about donations connected to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
The party will hold student meetings in about 800 cities.
Rahul Gandhi will attend some of those meetings.
Mallikarjun Kharge asked four Congress chief ministers to suggest ways to improve exams and education.
Congress leaders also criticized the government over alleged Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh.
They demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a purification ceremony after Kharge’s programme in Uttarakhand.
The party also decided that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram will be sung at its events.
The Congress Working Committee resolved to take paper-leak and “chanda chori” issues to villages and panchayats.
Congress will continue its “Chhatron ki Goonj” student programme in about 800 cities, with Rahul Gandhi joining some events.
Mallikarjun Kharge asked four Congress chief ministers to prepare education and examination reform roadmaps with experts.
The party reiterated demands for women’s reservation based on the Lok Sabha’s current 543-seat strength and discussed Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh.
Congress demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi apologize over “shuddhikaran” after Kharge’s programme in Uttarakhand and decided to sing only Vande Mataram’s first two stanzas at party events.
- Who
- The Congress Working Committee, chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with senior Congress leaders and four Congress chief ministers.
- What
- The Congress resolved to campaign on paper leaks, education concerns and alleged “chanda chori,” while announcing student events and other political demands.
- When
- Wednesday, August 19.
- Where
- The meeting was held at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi; the issues concerned Ayodhya, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Why
- Congress leaders said they wanted to take these issues to the grassroots level and challenge the government’s policies and handling of student protests.
- Meeting
- A four-hour Congress Working Committee meeting was held at Indira Bhawan and chaired by Mallikarjun Kharge.
- Attendance
- K C Venugopal said 88 leaders attended the meeting and 33 spoke.
- Grassroots campaign
- Congress state units were directed to raise the “chanda chori” issue at village and panchayat levels.
- Student programme
- “Chhatron ki Goonj” gatherings are planned in about 800 cities, with Rahul Gandhi attending some.
- Education reform
- Four Congress chief ministers were asked to work with education experts and submit reform roadmaps to Kharge within a month.
- Parliament and reservation
- Congress reiterated its demand that women’s reservation be implemented using the current 543-seat Lok Sabha strength.
- Vande Mataram
- The party said only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram would be sung at future Congress events.
