‘Instead of Catching the Thief, Hang a Lock on the Victim’s Door’: Rahul Gandhi Slams Centre's Telegram Ban

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday sharply criticised the Centre's decision to impose temporary restrictions on Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination on June 21, arguing that the move targets students instead of tackling those responsible for examination paper leaks.

The Congress leader accused the BJP-led Union Government of taking symbolic measures while failing to address the root cause of recurring examination controversies. His remarks came after authorities restricted access to Telegram until June 22, citing concerns over paper leaks, fraud and misinformation linked to national examinations.

Gandhi Questions Logic Behind Telegram Restrictions

Taking to X, Rahul Gandhi said the decision would hurt millions of students who rely on Telegram for study material, test series, discussions and exam preparation.

"Telegram Ban' - Modi Government's New Trick to Stop Paper Leaks. Meaning, instead of catching the thief, just hang a lock on the victim's door. Millions 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?," Gandhi asked in a post on X.

Telegram Ban’ - मोदी सरकार का पेपर लीक रोकने का नया नुस्खा।

यानी चोर को पकड़ने के बजाय, पीड़ित के घर पर ताला लटका दो।

लाखों छात्र सालों से Telegram पर पढ़ते हैं - नोट्स, टेस्ट सीरीज़, डिस्कशन, तैयारी। वो सुविधा छीन लेना पेपर लीक का समाधान कैसे हुआ?

और यह फूलप्रूफ भी नहीं है… https://t.co/LkiRN1oLTj

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 17, 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) welcomed the temporary restrictions, maintaining that the step was necessary to curb attempts at cheating, prevent the spread of false information and safeguard the integrity of the upcoming examination.

Concerns Over Message Editing Feature

Along with the temporary restriction, authorities have reportedly directed Telegram to disable its message-editing feature for existing posts in India until June 30. Officials believe the feature could potentially be misused to alter content and create misleading claims about examination paper leaks.

However, Gandhi argued that such measures would not eliminate organised cheating networks.

Stating that the move is not foolproof, Gandhi said, "...every student in the country knows this, and so does the paper leak mafia. So, who will the next ban be on? WhatsApp?"

The Congress MP suggested that the government was focusing on visible actions rather than dismantling the networks allegedly involved in examination fraud.

Congress Leader Targets Government Over Exam Security

Escalating his criticism, Gandhi mocked what he described as excessive security measures around examinations while alleging that the real culprits continue to operate freely.

"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," the Congress leader wrote.

He further accused the Centre of failing to address the systemic issues behind paper leaks.

"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 cry tears of blood," he said.

"Modi Ji - drop the theatrics. Strike at the mafia, not the students. Listen to the 'Echo of Students' - or else the youth of the country knows how to claim their rights," he added.

Student Concerns and Legal Challenge Emerge

Gandhi also shared a post by an X user who described how her brother allegedly struggled to access educational resources after Telegram was blocked. According to the post, he had to turn to "pirated content scammers" to obtain "NEET PG notes, videos and paid study groups" that were previously available through Telegram channels.

The controversy comes just hours before Gandhi is scheduled to meet students, including NEET aspirants, in Rajasthan's Kota. The interaction is expected to mark the launch of a nationwide Congress campaign focused on youth issues, recruitment examination transparency, employment opportunities and reforms in the education sector.

Meanwhile, Telegram has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the temporary restriction. Adding another dimension to the dispute, Telegram founder Pavel Durov alleged that Reliance Group and WhatsApp could be linked to efforts aimed at restricting the platform's operations in India.