NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, the Lok Sabha leader of the opposition, criticized the Central government on Thursday for its inadequate response to the NEET paper leak controversy. He called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and urged the establishment of a robust examination system to prevent future incidents of this nature.
Gandhi stated, “We won’t stop until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and a strong, secure system is put in place to stop paper leaks in the country. This fight is for every student whose future this failed government has stolen.” He emphasized that the Congress Party would persist in its efforts on behalf of affected students nationwide.
The Congress MP accused the government of neglecting the repeated protests by students who have been demanding accountability in light of the exam paper leaks. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he remarked, “When Modi Ji was making reels of handing out sweets in Italy – the youth of India, tormented by paper leaks, were taking to the streets demanding justice.”
Gandhi further asserted that the NEET paper leak had jeopardized the futures of countless students, alleging that some had even lost their lives due to the stress of the situation. He criticized the government’s inaction regarding Pradhan’s position and condemned the alleged use of force by BJP-ruled states against protesters seeking justice in the matter.
“A government that answers students’ questions with lathis doesn’t run on accountability – it runs on fear,” he stated, reaffirming the opposition’s commitment to advocating for examination reforms and greater accountability.
On the same day, Congress party workers organized a march toward the BJP state headquarters to protest alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET UG examination. Police reportedly met the protesters with barricades and water cannons, resulting in the detention of several demonstrators.
The NEET-UG examination, held on May 3 for admission into undergraduate medical courses, was annulled just two days later amid allegations of a paper leak. In response, the Central government initiated a comprehensive CBI investigation into the claims of misconduct related to the exam.
