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New Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Monday, August 24, wrote to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, raising issues faced by students in the latter’s state.

Sharing his letter on his X account, he said, “Numerous tribal students from Maharashtra have been on a hunger strike for more than 10 days to demand their rights.

“During the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Pune, female students shared that hostels enforce an unnecessary age limit of 30 years and humiliating rules…”

“I was shocked to learn that female students returning after an extended absence must undergo pregnancy tests and a range of other medical tests to prove their ‘fitness’,” he added.

“These students, coming from remote villages and towns, are not asking for charity—they are demanding what is theirs by right. They should not have to risk their health for their government to listen,” said the LoP, expecting that the CM would meet the students and resolve their issues.

He also attached the memo he reportedly got from tribal students living in government hostels in Pune during the event.

Fadnavis reaction to ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’

While Fadnavis hasn’t yet reacted to Gandhi’s letter, he did ridicule the Congress’ Pune event. He claimed that Rahul Gandhi does not want women to get their rights, even as Shiv Sena (UBT) said Gandhi had emerged as “the reassuring voice of India”, The Indian Express reported.

“Rahul Gandhi wants to ensure that women are not given their rights. On stage, he spoke about women’s empowerment, while he has opposed the most revolutionary step in the form of the Women’s Reservation Bill. He has opposed the bill and has also voted against it,” Fadnavis said in Nagpur after the closing ceremony of Manthan 4 Yuva, Nagpur 2026, a youth outreach event.

He even alleged that social media influencers were paid Rs 30,000 to promote Gandhi’s event.