Congress leader Rahul Gandhi praised 18-year-old whistleblower student Sarthak Sidhant and his associate Nisarga Adhikary for uncovering alleged irregularities in the CBSE's on-screen marking system (OSM) tender process.
Gandhi lauded the young men for questioning the system and pursuing answers despite their age, saying they had outperformed even the country's premier investigative agency.
He used the episode to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach towards young people, arguing that questioning authority was essential to democracy.
Gandhi said Modi wants youth to 'keep making reels and frying pakodas, without asking questions or opening their eyes.'
The Congress leader met Sidhant and his family last Tuesday and shared photographs and a message of support for the student.
Sidhant has emerged as one of the prominent voices questioning the implementation of the OSM system and made a presentation before a parliamentary panel on Tuesday.
