Will protest against you too: What viral youth Mohammad Irfan told Rahul Gandhi
Mohammad Irfan, a hawker, became an unlikely internet sensation after videos of him at the Cockroach Janta Party protest went viral. In a wide-ranging interview with The Lallantop, Irfan opened up about his interaction with Rahul Gandhi and why he would first meet Amit Shah before PM Modi.
He has no political affiliation and has had no formal education. However, among the sea of protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Mohammad Irfan, a hawker, captured India's attention for his unfiltered views on everyday struggles of labourers and the underprivileged. As videos of Irfan from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest -- in which he was seen reciting the Preamble and verses by the Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz -- went viral, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi met him on Monday. Irfan told Rahul that he would not hesitate to protest against him if the Leader of the Opposition failed to keep his promises.
In a wide-ranging interview with India Today's sister outlet, The Lallantop, Irfan opened up about his discussion with Rahul, his own experiences of poverty, the challenges faced by labourers, and why he would like to meet Home Minister Amit Shah before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
WHAT MOHAMMAD IRFAN TOLD RAHUL GANDHI?
Irfan said he reminded the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) that he too could be in power one day. Keeping that in mind, Irfan said he urged Rahul to work for the welfare of migrant and daily wage labourers across the country.
However, Irfan had a blunt message for Rahul -- if he broke his promises, he too would face protests.
"I told him that even if he goes against his promises, we will oppose him and hit the streets. I am neutral and want the good of this country. If the country is doing well, then all the people should get basic facilities. No one should be deprived," Irfan said.
Such emotive and grounded remarks by Irfan are what made him an unlikely Internet sensation. Dressed in white with a gamcha around his neck, Irfan unexpectedly became one of the defining voices of the protest over exam paper leaks, which ultimately resulted in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last week.
A resident of Delhi's Sawda JJ Colony, Irfan said he raised the issue of the growing number of suicides by labourers with Rahul.
"As per the 2024 NCRB data, 177,746 people died by suicide. 31% of them were daily-wage labourers. A major reason was economic hardship and mental stress," he said.
"How can we ignore the people whose sweat and blood build this country?" he said.
Irfan also flagged that while government records mention a minimum monthly wage of Rs 18,000, several workers receive only Rs 13,000-14,000 despite working 10-11 hours a day.
He also pointed out loopholes in the education system, flagging the increasing number of student dropouts before Class 10 or Class 12. "That is a serious question... Education alone can improve an individual's life and the nation," Irfan said.
He stressed that while the government has set up polytechnics and ITIs for the youth, these were mostly accessible to middle-class and affluent families.
"This only widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Education should provide equal opportunities... That is why we were sitting at Jantar Mantar," Irfan said.
"Parties promise us a better life every 5 years. When it doesn't get better, then we have the right to question you. Whether you call it anti-national or even terrorists," he further said.
SURPRISE CALL FROM PRIYANKA GANDHI
You might wonder how Irfan has developed such deep knowledge and thoughtful opinions despite never attending school or learning to read or write. According to him, he has found his own way of learning - via 'YouTube university' and using Google voice search on his smartphone.
During his meeting with Rahul, their discussion was once interrupted by a call from Priyanka Gandhi. The Wayanad MP had one request from Irfan.
"She (Priyanka) requested, 'Please tell Rahul Gandhi to get married. He never listens to me'," Irfan told Lallantop.
He then quipped, "I would rather like Rahul to never get married... he is older than me. He is a very kind-hearted person."
Later on Monday, Rahul posted about their meeting, underlining that Irfan's perspective on the challenges facing the country showed that "India's greatest strength lies in its youth".
"I met Irfan... whose mindset transcends his circumstances," Rahul tweeted. "Millions of young people like him represent the country's true hope – inquisitive, sensitive and conscious of their rights and duties," the LoP further said.
WHY IRFAN WANTS TO MEET AMIT SHAH BEFORE MODI?
During his interview with Lallantop, Irfan was asked a pressing question. Will he meet PM Modi?
Irfan said he had no hesitation in meeting the Prime Minister even though "ideological differences" would always remain. However, he said that before PM Modi, he would first like to meet Amit Shah.
Irfan said he would flag to Shah the alleged police negligence in dealing with drug-related cases. "The police often fail to act despite complaints," he said.
Making his point, Irfan said in his slum, even a 12-year-old child knows where cannabis and other drugs are sold, "but somehow the police do not seem to know".
Irfan's rise from the narrow lanes of Sawda JJ Colony to capturing the nation's attention was unexpected. He first caught the eye of the public while reciting the Preamble of the Constitution during the student protests.
"The Preamble talks about equality; it talks about equality of everyone on all resources," Irfan said. He ended with a simple question, "Then, how did people remain deprived on such a large scale?"
He has no political affiliation and has had no formal education. However, among the sea of protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Mohammad Irfan, a hawker, captured India's attention for his unfiltered views on everyday struggles of labourers and the underprivileged. As videos of Irfan from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest -- in which he was seen reciting the Preamble and verses by the Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz -- went viral, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi met him on Monday. Irfan told Rahul that he would not hesitate to protest against him if the Leader of the Opposition failed to keep his promises.
In a wide-ranging interview with India Today's sister outlet, The Lallantop, Irfan opened up about his discussion with Rahul, his own experiences of poverty, the challenges faced by labourers, and why he would like to meet Home Minister Amit Shah before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
WHAT MOHAMMAD IRFAN TOLD RAHUL GANDHI?
Irfan said he reminded the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) that he too could be in power one day. Keeping that in mind, Irfan said he urged Rahul to work for the welfare of migrant and daily wage labourers across the country.
However, Irfan had a blunt message for Rahul -- if he broke his promises, he too would face protests.
"I told him that even if he goes against his promises, we will oppose him and hit the streets. I am neutral and want the good of this country. If the country is doing well, then all the people should get basic facilities. No one should be deprived," Irfan said.
Such emotive and grounded remarks by Irfan are what made him an unlikely Internet sensation. Dressed in white with a gamcha around his neck, Irfan unexpectedly became one of the defining voices of the protest over exam paper leaks, which ultimately resulted in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last week.
A resident of Delhi's Sawda JJ Colony, Irfan said he raised the issue of the growing number of suicides by labourers with Rahul.
"As per the 2024 NCRB data, 177,746 people died by suicide. 31% of them were daily-wage labourers. A major reason was economic hardship and mental stress," he said.
"How can we ignore the people whose sweat and blood build this country?" he said.
Irfan also flagged that while government records mention a minimum monthly wage of Rs 18,000, several workers receive only Rs 13,000-14,000 despite working 10-11 hours a day.
He also pointed out loopholes in the education system, flagging the increasing number of student dropouts before Class 10 or Class 12. "That is a serious question... Education alone can improve an individual's life and the nation," Irfan said.
He stressed that while the government has set up polytechnics and ITIs for the youth, these were mostly accessible to middle-class and affluent families.
"This only widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Education should provide equal opportunities... That is why we were sitting at Jantar Mantar," Irfan said.
"Parties promise us a better life every 5 years. When it doesn't get better, then we have the right to question you. Whether you call it anti-national or even terrorists," he further said.
SURPRISE CALL FROM PRIYANKA GANDHI
You might wonder how Irfan has developed such deep knowledge and thoughtful opinions despite never attending school or learning to read or write. According to him, he has found his own way of learning - via 'YouTube university' and using Google voice search on his smartphone.
During his meeting with Rahul, their discussion was once interrupted by a call from Priyanka Gandhi. The Wayanad MP had one request from Irfan.
"She (Priyanka) requested, 'Please tell Rahul Gandhi to get married. He never listens to me'," Irfan told Lallantop.
He then quipped, "I would rather like Rahul to never get married... he is older than me. He is a very kind-hearted person."
Later on Monday, Rahul posted about their meeting, underlining that Irfan's perspective on the challenges facing the country showed that "India's greatest strength lies in its youth".
"I met Irfan... whose mindset transcends his circumstances," Rahul tweeted. "Millions of young people like him represent the country's true hope – inquisitive, sensitive and conscious of their rights and duties," the LoP further said.
WHY IRFAN WANTS TO MEET AMIT SHAH BEFORE MODI?
During his interview with Lallantop, Irfan was asked a pressing question. Will he meet PM Modi?
Irfan said he had no hesitation in meeting the Prime Minister even though "ideological differences" would always remain. However, he said that before PM Modi, he would first like to meet Amit Shah.
Irfan said he would flag to Shah the alleged police negligence in dealing with drug-related cases. "The police often fail to act despite complaints," he said.
Making his point, Irfan said in his slum, even a 12-year-old child knows where cannabis and other drugs are sold, "but somehow the police do not seem to know".
Irfan's rise from the narrow lanes of Sawda JJ Colony to capturing the nation's attention was unexpected. He first caught the eye of the public while reciting the Preamble of the Constitution during the student protests.
"The Preamble talks about equality; it talks about equality of everyone on all resources," Irfan said. He ended with a simple question, "Then, how did people remain deprived on such a large scale?"
He has no political affiliation and has had no formal education. However, among the sea of protesters at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, Mohammad Irfan, a hawker, captured India's attention for his unfiltered views on everyday struggles of labourers and the underprivileged. As videos of Irfan from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest -- in which he was seen reciting the Preamble and verses by the Urdu poet Ahmad Faraz -- went viral, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi met him on Monday. Irfan told Rahul that he would not hesitate to protest against him if the Leader of the Opposition failed to keep his promises.
In a wide-ranging interview with India Today's sister outlet, The Lallantop, Irfan opened up about his discussion with Rahul, his own experiences of poverty, the challenges faced by labourers, and why he would like to meet Home Minister Amit Shah before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
WHAT MOHAMMAD IRFAN TOLD RAHUL GANDHI?
Irfan said he reminded the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) that he too could be in power one day. Keeping that in mind, Irfan said he urged Rahul to work for the welfare of migrant and daily wage labourers across the country.
However, Irfan had a blunt message for Rahul -- if he broke his promises, he too would face protests.
"I told him that even if he goes against his promises, we will oppose him and hit the streets. I am neutral and want the good of this country. If the country is doing well, then all the people should get basic facilities. No one should be deprived," Irfan said.
Such emotive and grounded remarks by Irfan are what made him an unlikely Internet sensation. Dressed in white with a gamcha around his neck, Irfan unexpectedly became one of the defining voices of the protest over exam paper leaks, which ultimately resulted in the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan last week.
A resident of Delhi's Sawda JJ Colony, Irfan said he raised the issue of the growing number of suicides by labourers with Rahul.
"As per the 2024 NCRB data, 177,746 people died by suicide. 31% of them were daily-wage labourers. A major reason was economic hardship and mental stress," he said.
"How can we ignore the people whose sweat and blood build this country?" he said.
Irfan also flagged that while government records mention a minimum monthly wage of Rs 18,000, several workers receive only Rs 13,000-14,000 despite working 10-11 hours a day.
He also pointed out loopholes in the education system, flagging the increasing number of student dropouts before Class 10 or Class 12. "That is a serious question... Education alone can improve an individual's life and the nation," Irfan said.
He stressed that while the government has set up polytechnics and ITIs for the youth, these were mostly accessible to middle-class and affluent families.
"This only widens the gap between the rich and the poor. Education should provide equal opportunities... That is why we were sitting at Jantar Mantar," Irfan said.
"Parties promise us a better life every 5 years. When it doesn't get better, then we have the right to question you. Whether you call it anti-national or even terrorists," he further said.
SURPRISE CALL FROM PRIYANKA GANDHI
You might wonder how Irfan has developed such deep knowledge and thoughtful opinions despite never attending school or learning to read or write. According to him, he has found his own way of learning - via 'YouTube university' and using Google voice search on his smartphone.
During his meeting with Rahul, their discussion was once interrupted by a call from Priyanka Gandhi. The Wayanad MP had one request from Irfan.
"She (Priyanka) requested, 'Please tell Rahul Gandhi to get married. He never listens to me'," Irfan told Lallantop.
He then quipped, "I would rather like Rahul to never get married... he is older than me. He is a very kind-hearted person."
Later on Monday, Rahul posted about their meeting, underlining that Irfan's perspective on the challenges facing the country showed that "India's greatest strength lies in its youth".
"I met Irfan... whose mindset transcends his circumstances," Rahul tweeted. "Millions of young people like him represent the country's true hope – inquisitive, sensitive and conscious of their rights and duties," the LoP further said.
WHY IRFAN WANTS TO MEET AMIT SHAH BEFORE MODI?
During his interview with Lallantop, Irfan was asked a pressing question. Will he meet PM Modi?
Irfan said he had no hesitation in meeting the Prime Minister even though "ideological differences" would always remain. However, he said that before PM Modi, he would first like to meet Amit Shah.
Irfan said he would flag to Shah the alleged police negligence in dealing with drug-related cases. "The police often fail to act despite complaints," he said.
Making his point, Irfan said in his slum, even a 12-year-old child knows where cannabis and other drugs are sold, "but somehow the police do not seem to know".
Irfan's rise from the narrow lanes of Sawda JJ Colony to capturing the nation's attention was unexpected. He first caught the eye of the public while reciting the Preamble of the Constitution during the student protests.
"The Preamble talks about equality; it talks about equality of everyone on all resources," Irfan said. He ended with a simple question, "Then, how did people remain deprived on such a large scale?"
