Priyanka Gandhi Slams “Godi Media”, Asks Why Press Isn’t Questioning Education Minister Over NEET, Lathicharge
Sunil Negi,
New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on sections of the media, accusing reporters from PTI, IANS and other national wire agencies of asking “irrelevant questions” to opposition leaders while avoiding tough questions to the government on the ongoing student protests and the NEET paper leak.
Speaking to journalists outside Parliament, Priyanka appeared visibly annoyed as she was asked about the Congress’s political strategy on the student agitation. She stopped and fired back, asking the reporters directly: “Have you questioned the Education Minister whether he is resigning or not? Did you ask him why he ordered lathicharge on innocent students?” She catagorically accused of having been trapped in the net of the BJP and posing irrelevant questions to suit the ruling party.
She said the media was focusing on questions that “suit the ruling political dispensation” instead of holding the government accountable. “You ask irrelevant questions to opposition leaders that suit the government. But you never question the ministers regarding the ongoing movement and regarding the fulfilment of their genuine demands,” Priyanka said. “Why is there silence on the Education Minister? Why is there no question on who is responsible for the paper leaks and for the suicides of over 20 aspirants?”
The Congress leader’s remarks came on a day when the student protest at Jantar Mantar entered its fourth day and turned violent in parts, with videos showing protesters chasing a policeman after days of lathicharge and tear gas.
The agitation was triggered by alleged irregularities in NEET-UG 2026 and other competitive exams, and has now become a major flashpoint for the INDIA bloc in Parliament.
Priyanka said the role of the press in a democracy was to question power, not to act as its spokesperson.
Referring to the coverage of the last few days, she accused what she called the “Godi media” of deliberately shifting focus away from the government’s failures.
“When students are being beaten, when a 21-year-old girl is in RML Hospital after colliding with a barricade, when an ADCP is seen slapping a woman protester on camera, your job is to ask the Home Ministry and the Education Ministry, not to ask us what Congress will do next,” she told the gathered reporters.
She pointed out that Union Ministers J.P. Nadda and Dr. Jitendra Singh had offered to meet students, but said that was not enough. “The demand is clear — fix accountability, the Education Minister must resign, and there should be a judicial probe. Have you asked the minister these questions? Or is it easier to ask us?”
Priyanka’s outburst drew support from other INDIA bloc MPs present, including those who have been protesting inside Parliament premises led by Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav. They too have been demanding the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation for families of students who died by suicide.
The Congress leader ended by saying the media must decide whose side it is on. “If you keep asking us political questions while ignoring the blood on the streets, then you are not doing journalism. You are doing public relations for the government.”
Her comments immediately went viral on social media, with clips of her questioning the reporters being shared widely by student groups at Jantar Mantar, who have been accusing the mainstream press of blacking out their demands.
