The party asserted that it would never forgive the BJP for this “sin”. (AI Image)
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday cited a “sting operation” to allege that students facing financial hardship in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj are being forced to sell their blood to meet the expenses of their education and hostel accommodation.
The Congress leader also claimed that 132 students die by suicide in Uttar Pradesh every month, while 14,488 students died by suicide across the country in 2024. “The sting has revealed— the area around the Allahabad Medical Association Blood Bank is a hub of coaching centres.
The party said it would never forgive the BJP for this “sin”. Congress’s Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam said a Hindi daily had conducted a sting operation at the blood bank of the Allahabad Medical Association. There can be nothing more shameful than this,” Gautam said at a press conference here along with party colleague Abhay Dubey.
Here, a very large number of students are selling their blood to continue their studies. Questioning the government’s ability to support students, he asked what purpose a government served if it could not ensure education for children or provide them with hostel accommodation. He also criticised the government over the rising cost of higher education and alleged cuts to scholarship programmes.