Kumar Rakesh
New Delhi, 22nd July. As the Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced on Monday, the Opposition seized the opportunity to criticize the government over the NEET paper leak issue. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav prominently raised concerns regarding the incident, leading to a heated exchange during the ‘Question Hour’. Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan addressed the queries, defending his handling of the matter.
Rahul Gandhi launched a strong critique against Minister Pradhan, accusing him of failing to take responsibility for the NEET paper leak. Gandhi asserted that Pradhan had “blamed everybody except himself” for the issue and questioned his grasp of the situation. He described the examination system as deeply flawed, suggesting that public perception is now skewed towards the belief that wealth can influence and corrupt the examination process. Gandhi emphasized the widespread concern among students about the integrity of the examination system, asserting that many believe it to be a “fraud.”
Akhilesh Yadav also weighed in, accusing the government of setting a record for paper leaks and ridiculing the Education Minister’s handling of the situation. Yadav criticized the government for its ineffective response and suggested that the Minister’s tenure has failed to bring justice to affected students.
In response, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan defended the government’s record, stating that there was no evidence of widespread paper leaks in the past seven years, except for a “singular incident” in Patna during the recent NEET-UG exam held on May 5. Pradhan emphasized that the matter is currently before the Supreme Court, which is reviewing all relevant facts. He noted that since the establishment of the National Testing Agency (NTA), over 240 exams have been conducted with millions of students participating successfully.
Pradhan assured the House that the government is transparent and has submitted all facts to the Supreme Court. He stated that he serves at the discretion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and affirmed that the government will be accountable for any irregularities. Regarding calls for his resignation, Pradhan reiterated that the investigation is ongoing and that the CBI and police are addressing the issues related to the Patna incident.
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