“Education begins with curiosity and open thinking. We need an environment where children can ask questions freely, without fear or pressure. Education is the foundation of true freedom—it should not belong only to the rich or the privileged,” Rahul said while interacting with students in South America.
He added that India must build a new manufacturing system within a democratic framework, suggesting that partnerships with nations like the United States and Peru could help drive this transformation.
Interaction with South American Students
The Congress leader’s remarks came during a discussion with students at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a university in Chile. On Sunday, the Congress party shared a 12-minute, 19-second video of these interactions on X (formerly Twitter). The conversation touched upon key themes such as education, democracy, and global politics.
Rahul Gandhi is currently on a 10-day tour across South America, covering Colombia, Brazil, Peru, and Chile. During the visit, he has engaged with students, academics, and community members on issues including education reforms, global democracy, and India’s political landscape.
Exploring Colombia’s Coffee Culture
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi posted a video from Pergamino Coffee Shop in Medellín, Colombia, documenting his visit to one of the country’s most renowned coffee houses.
In the video shared on his YouTube channel, he observed the art and science behind coffee making, noting that over 500,000 Colombian families treat coffee not merely as a crop but as a way of life deeply tied to their national identity.
“At Pergamino, I learned that every cup of coffee is a blend of science and creativity,” he said. “In India too—from Wayanad and Coorg to Araku and the Nilgiris—we have the soil, the farmers, and the passion to create our own global story of specialty coffee.”
Critique of BJP-RSS Ideology
On October 2, at the ‘The Future is Today’ conference at Columbia University, Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp critique of the RSS-BJP ideology, calling “cowardice its core trait.”
He referenced a 2023 statement by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who had remarked that China was “much stronger than India.”
“Their ideology is rooted in fear. They threaten the weak but bow before the powerful. This is the essence of BJP-RSS thinking,” Rahul said
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