Strike at paper leak mafia, not students: Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi on Telegram curbs

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. File. | Photo Credit: X/@INCIndia via PTI

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) slammed the government after it temporarily restricted access to Telegram, saying the “new trick” was akin to putting a lock on the victim’s house instead of catching the thief.

Telegram has stopped working for existing users in India after the Centre temporarily restricted access to the messaging app ahead of the June 21 NEET-UG re-examination, but it continues to remain operational through the Virtual Protocol Network (VPN).

Google delisted the app on Tuesday (June 16, 2026), and Apple’s Appstore has also removed it now in compliance with the government order to block access to the app.

In a post in Hindi on X, Mr. Gandhi said, “Telegram Ban — Modi government’s new trick to stop paper leaks. Meaning, instead of catching the thief, just put a lock on the victim’s door.”

“Lakhs of students have been studying on Telegram for years — notes, test series, discussions, preparation. How does snatching that facility become the solution to paper leaks? And it’s not even foolproof – every student in the country knows this, and so does the paper leak mafia. So, who will the next ban be on? WhatsApp?” he said.

“On exam day, students will be frisked. Pockets will be cut open with scissors. Question papers will be sent via the Air Force. There won’t be any shortage of theatrics. But not a single strike at the root of the disease — because the paper leak mafia is thriving under this very government’s watch and making the youth weep tears of blood. Modi Ji — drop the theatrics. Strike at the mafia, not the students,” he said.

Listen to the “Chhatron ki goonj (echo of students)” — or else the youth of the country know how to claim their rights, Mr. Gandhi said.

In another post in Hindi, the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said he has set out for Kota, but two names are echoing in his heart — Umesh and Riya.

“Yesterday, Umesh in Sikar and Riya in Deh