Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticizes the Centre’s temporary ban on Telegram, saying it is a diversion that targets students rather than paper leak networks. Referring to the forthcoming NEET-UG 2026 re-examination, he argues that the government’s decision amounts to a “new trick” by restricting access to a platform widely used for study materials and communication. Gandhi contends that blocking a messaging service does not address the root cause of exam irregularities and instead shifts the impact onto students who rely on the platform. He also questions the effectiveness of the measure, saying the focus should be on identifying and actioning those involved in paper leaks rather than limiting Telegram access. Across the reporting, Gandhi’s criticism is framed around the timing of the ban and the NEET re-exam schedule, with the Congress leader urging the government to target alleged leak networks instead of using platform restrictions as a substitute for enforcement.