New Delhi, Oct 28 The Congress on Wednesday cited a “sting operation” to claim that students, struggling with financial hardship in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj, are compelled to sell their blood to cover the costs of their education and hostel accommodation.
The party asserted that it would never forgive the BJP for this “sin”.
Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam said a Hindi daily has conducted a sting operation on the blood bank of the Allahabad Medical Association.
“The sting has revealed— the area around the Allahabad Medical Association Blood Bank is a hub of coaching centres. Here, a very large number of students are selling their blood to continue their studies. There can be nothing more shameful than this,” Gautam said at a press conference here along with party colleague Abhay Dubey.
What’s the use of such a government that cannot arrange for education for children and cannot provide them hostels to live in, he asked.
Citing the sting operation, Gautam said it was discovered that brokers hold sway at the blood bank of the Allahabad Medical Association.
“These brokers know which students living in hostels are financially strained and which ones are in need of money. These brokers arrange fake documentation for the students and then their blood is sold. The desperate students do all this just to continue their studies and pay the hostel fees,” he claimed.
The sting operation revealed that students are selling blood even up to four times a month and they receive Rs 4,000-5,000 for one unit of blood, Gautam claimed.
The Congress leader claimed that 132 students die by suicide in Uttar Pradesh every month, while 14,488 students took their own lives nationwide in 2024.
He also targeted the government over the rising costs of higher education and alleged cuts to scholarship programmes.
Congress leader Dubey also attacked both the central and Uttar Pradesh’s BJP governments over the findings of the sting operation.
“In Uttar Pradesh, on one hand, students are forced to sell their blood to cover the costs of their education, while on the other, the BJP government is selling off the students’ future by leaking exam papers,” he alleged.
(PTI News)
