Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is expected to visit Dehradun on July 17 to interact with students and youngsters as the Congress steps up its nationwide ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ campaign on issues confronting the education sector.

As per party insiders, the interaction is likely to be held at the Parade Ground and will follow the format of the outreach programme launched by Gandhi in Kota, Rajasthan. Congress leaders said preparations for the Dehradun event were underway.

The campaign has been launched to highlight concerns over examination irregularities, unemployment and what the Congress describes as the deteriorating state of the country's education system.

Through the initiative, the party has been seeking a wider debate on reforms in the education sector while renewing its demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Dehradun programme comes after Gandhi’s outreach in Kota, where he said young people were facing mounting academic pressure, mental health challenges and systemic shortcomings in the education system, stressing the need for sustained dialogue with students. The Congress plans to take the campaign to other cities in the coming weeks, with conventions also scheduled in Allahabad, Patna and Delhi.

Gandhi had last visited Uttarakhand on June 4. However, his proposed public rally in Almora and an interaction with ex-servicemen in Pauri Garhwal were postponed because of adverse weather conditions.