The central government’s decision to temporarily restrict Telegram before the NEET-UG 2026 re-exam has triggered strong political backlash from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi
Students Targeted Instead of Paper Leak Mafia
Rahul Gandhi stated that the Telegram ban represents a misplaced approach to tackling paper leaks, arguing that the government is targeting students instead of real culprits
He said students depend on Telegram for study notes, test series, discussions, and exam preparation, making the restriction highly disruptive for lakhs of candidates
Furthermore, he questioned how removing student access could solve the issue of exam leaks, calling it an incomplete and ineffective solution
He warned that ignoring student concerns could push the youth to demand their rights more strongly in the future
Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi tweets, “Telegram Ban’ – Modi Government’s New Trick to Stop Paper Leaks. Instead of catching the thief, just hang a lock on the victim’s door… The paper leak mafia is thriving under this very government’s watch…” pic.twitter.com/0JmDKlNmk9
— The Bharat Post (@TheBharatPost__) June 17, 2026
Allegations of Excessive Examination Control
Rahul Gandhi criticized the system of strict exam-day measures, saying students face extreme checks while core issues remain unaddressed
He alleged that authorities focus on visible actions like searches and security, while paper leak networks continue to operate freely
Additionally, he claimed that emphasis on procedural control does not stop the real “paper leak mafia” influencing the system
Telegram Founder and CEO Respond to Ban
The Telegram founder stated that the Indian government imposed a one-week ban due to leaked exam-related content shared by some users
He added that more than 15 crore users are being affected instead of the actual individuals responsible for leaks
He also said the restriction has not stopped the issue, as similar activities continue on other platforms
Meanwhile, the Telegram CEO confirmed that hundreds of channels distributing exam material have been removed recently
He further stated that the platform is improving visibility of edited labels to prevent backdated manipulation of posts
However, he also called the ban inappropriate, even if temporary, and highlighted ongoing misuse concerns
