Youth Congress Holds Bicycle Rally in Bengaluru, Calls for Education Reforms and Student Support
Campaign urges accountability over alleged exam irregularities, promotes message that suicide is never the solution
Bengaluru, 12 July: Demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities, question paper leaks and rising concerns over student suicides, the Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee (KPYCC) on Sunday organised a massive bicycle rally in Bengaluru as part of its nationwide ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ (Voice of Students) campaign. The rally also sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while spreading the message that no student should lose hope or consider suicide as a solution.
Led by KPYCC State President H.S. Manjunath, the rally commenced from the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office and proceeded via K.R. Circle to the Gandhi Statue. Hundreds of students and youth participated, carrying placards demanding the resignation of the Union Education Minister and raising slogans such as “Life is precious, dreams must not die, students must not fail.” Participants cycled through the city to convey a strong message that suicide is never the answer, and that systemic reforms are essential to restore students’ confidence.
Students Need Hope, Not Paper Leaks, says @HariprasadBK2
"ಪ್ರಶ್ನೆ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆ ಸೋರಿಕೆ ಅಲ್ಲ, ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಭರವಸೆ ಬೇಕು"
Karnataka Youth Congress organised a bicycle rally in Bengaluru under the Chhatron Ki Goonj campaign, demanding Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's… pic.twitter.com/NDeULqrOXS
— RafeeQ Jabbar Naqshbandi (@azzharee) July 12, 2026
Campaign Aims to Restore Students’ Confidence
Addressing the gathering, KPCC President B.K. Hariprasad said the campaign was inspired by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s initiative launched in Kota to instil confidence among students facing academic stress and uncertainty.
Referring to alleged irregularities in national-level examinations, Hariprasad claimed that the future of nearly 1.4 crore students had been affected due to question paper leaks and examination-related controversies. He also alleged that several students had died by suicide following the NEET examination crisis.
“Our intention is to ensure that students do not lose confidence or hope. They must believe that they are not alone. This bicycle rally has been organised to encourage students to face challenges with courage rather than despair,” he said.
Hariprasad further urged students and youth to actively participate in shaping policies that determine their future. “The Constitution empowers citizens to demand better governance. Students must organise, raise their voices and compel governments to implement better educational policies. Meaningful change is possible only through a transparent and robust education system,” he added.
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‘No Student Should Sacrifice Their Life for a Corrupt System’
KPYCC State President H.S. Manjunath stressed that no student should become a victim of what he described as failures in the examination system.
“No student should sacrifice their life because of the shortcomings of a corrupt system. Change comes through sustained democratic struggle, not through suicide. Parents must also understand the emotional state of their children and stand firmly beside them during difficult times,” he said.
He alleged that examination malpractices were enabling undeserving candidates with financial influence to secure prestigious positions, undermining merit and fairness. Manjunath asserted that the Youth Congress would continue its campaign until meaningful reforms are introduced in the examination system.
Criticising the Union government, he alleged that repeated instances of question paper leaks had eroded public trust in the examination process and claimed that no one had been held accountable in such cases. He also accused the government of failing to acknowledge the emotional distress faced by students and their families.
Key Demands of the Campaign
The Youth Congress placed three major demands before the Union Government:
- Resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
- A comprehensive investigation into the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), along with systemic reforms.
- Preparation and strict implementation of an annual academic calendar covering examinations, results and recruitment to ensure transparency and predictability for students.
Leaders Present
Among those present at the rally were MLC D.T. Srinivas, National Youth Congress Secretary Tariq Bhagwan, KPYCC State Vice-President Chaithra, State President of the Legal Cell Sridhar Jadhav, along with several Youth Congress leaders, students and volunteers.
The rally concluded with participants taking a pledge to continue their democratic campaign for a fair, transparent and student-centric education system while encouraging young people to choose hope, resilience and collective action over despair.
