Rahul Gandhi Slams BJP-RSS Over English Education, Calls It a Tool for Empowerment

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS, accusing them of trying to block access to English education for India’s poor to keep them from questioning authority and accessing better opportunities.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandhi said, "English is not a dam, but a bridge. English is not a shame, but power. English is not a chain, but a tool to break the chains." He claimed that the BJP and RSS don’t want underprivileged children to learn English because they fear it will empower them to rise, ask questions, and demand equality.
Gandhi also shared a video criticizing RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who has frequently advocated for promoting Hindi over English. "Mohan Bhagwat says every day that people should speak in Hindi, not English. But if you look at the children of BJP and RSS leaders, they all go abroad, especially to England, for their education," he said in the video.
"Why is that? Because they don’t want you in the boardrooms. They don’t want you in high-paying jobs. They want English-medium education for their kids, but not for yours. They want to keep the doors shut for you," he added.
Gandhi emphasized that both English and India’s native languages are powerful tools of empowerment. He stressed the importance of respecting regional languages while also ensuring every child in the country has access to English education.
"Every Indian language holds soul, culture, and knowledge. We must celebrate and protect them. But at the same time, we must ensure that every child learns English. That’s the only way we can build an India that competes globally and offers equal opportunity to all," he said.
The remarks are part of a broader campaign by Gandhi and the Congress party to position themselves as champions of equality, education, and opportunity—particularly for the country’s underprivileged and marginalized communities.