 "In a video posted on X, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi explained that the white T-shirt “symbolises transparency, solidity and simplicity for me.” PTI")
One of Rahul Gandhi’s trademark looks is his plain white T-shirt.
Made famous during his Bharat Jodo Yatras, the Congress MP launched a “White T-shirt” campaign on his 54th birthday on 19 June, Wednesday.
He urged supporters to wear the simple tee in the backdrop of protests over the NEET, NET row.
Let’s take a closer look.
The White T-shirt campaign
In a video posted on X, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi explained that the white T-shirt “symbolises transparency, solidity and simplicity for me.”
“My heartfelt thanks to all of you for your birthday wishes. I am often asked why I always wear a ‘white T-shirt’ - this T-shirt symbolises transparency, solidity and simplicity for me,” the Rae Bareli MP said in the post.
“Where and how useful are these values in your life? Use #WhiteTshirtArmy and tell me in a video. And, I will gift you a white T-shirt. Lots of love to everyone”, he added.
He asked people to use the hashtag #WhiteTshirtArmy in a video message to him that explained the significance of these values in their lives.
Gandhi also promised to give out white T-shirts to anybody who sent him reaction videos in his post. These will have the signature “RG” on them.
The timing is crucial
Yes.
Currently, young people have been angered about purported paper leaks and irregularities that resulted in the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) exam being cancelled and demands for the NEET-UG 2024 exam to be cancelled.
By linking transparency to a basic white T-shirt, the campaign aims to cultivate a potential voting base for the party, explained News18.
Also, it’s a visual statement, much like the “Modi shirt” promotion on the NaMo app during the previous prime minister’s mandate.
The purpose of launching the T-shirt campaign is to mobilise young people who are tired of problems like unemployment, price hikes, and paper leaks.
Since the Congress attributes its better performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to Rahul Gandhi’s two Bharat Jodo Yatras, the white T-shirt campaign is perceived as an extension that connects and reaches out to the public.
Additionally, the Congress hopes that by using the colour that symbolises peace, it can offset the BJP’s “saffron” campaign.
According to News18 sources, Gandhi had the concept for the T-shirt campaign last year, but he believes that the time is right to strike after the election results, prompted by the NEET/NET protests.
Rahul Gandhi’s scathing attack on PM
On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over UGC-NET cancellation and the ongoing NEET row, according to India Today.
He said, “It was being said that Modi ji stopped the Russia-Ukraine war. But for some reason, Narendra Modi has not been able to stop or doesn’t want to stop paper leaks in India.”
The Congress MP alleged that the paper leaks were happening as the “education system has been captured by the BJP’s parent organisation.”
“Till the time this is not reversed, paper leaks will go on. Modi ji has facilitated this capture. It is an anti-national activity,” Gandhi said, adding that university vice-chancellors were not picked on the basis of merit but on the basis of their connection to “a particular organisation.”
“And this organisation and the BJP have penetrated our education system and destroyed it. What was done by Narendra Modi to the economy with demonetisation, has now been done to the education system,” he said.
He added, “The reason this is happening and the reason you’re suffering is because an independent, objective education system has been demolished… It is very important that the people who are guilty here are brought to book and they are punished.”
The NEET, NET controversies
The University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) was cancelled by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Wednesday, one day after it was conducted on 18 June in 1,205 exam centres located in 317 cities nationwide.
More than 11 lakh applicants took the test.
The reason for the move was concerns that the “integrity of the examination may have been compromised.”
According to the NTA, the University Grants Commission (UGC) received some information suggesting that the exam’s integrity might have been jeopardised.
The agency said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the situation. The National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Examination, provided the insights that raise concerns about the exam’s integrity.
This comes as reports of similar irregularities in the medical entrance exam National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Undergraduate 2024 (NEET-UG) – also conducted by the NTA – have surfaced, with allegations of question paper leaks being raised in states like Bihar.
As many as 67 students scored a perfect 720, unprecedented in the NTA’s history.
Six of them were from a centre in Haryana’s Faridabad, raising suspicions about irregularities.
Grace marks are said to have played a part in so many students sharing the top spot.
Regarding the NEET-UG exam, the NTA said, “The issue related to grace marks has already been fully addressed. As regards certain irregularities alleged in the conduct of the examination in Patna, a detailed report has been sought from the Economic Offences Unit, Bihar Police. Government will take further action, on receipt of this report.”
“Government is committed to ensuring the sanctity of examinations and protecting the interest of students. It is reiterated that any individual/organization found to be involved in this matter will face strictest action,” it added.
According to multiple media sources, the primary accused in the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case confessed on Thursday.
Amit Anand, the alleged mastermind, has acknowledged selling the exam question a day prior to it.
Anand stated that he got paid between Rs 30 and Rs 32 lakh for the test.
In this case, the police have already taken 13 persons into custody.
With inputs from agencies