Source TOI
NEW DELHI — In an aggressive escalation of the opposition’s campaign over national examination irregularities, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a scathing attack on the Central government, declaring that the Congress party “won’t stop” until Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan steps down.
The statement follows nationwide outrage and intensifying street protests by student bodies and political workers over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) paper leak controversy.
No Accountability, Only Fear: Opposition Strikes Back
Taking to social media platform X, Gandhi backed the ongoing demonstrations organized by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI). He strongly condemned the police action in states like Rajasthan, where security forces utilized water cannons and batons (lathis) to disperse crowds marching toward the BJP state headquarters.
“A government that answers students’ questions with batons doesn’t run on accountability—it runs on fear,” Gandhi wrote. “But we are not the ones to be scared. We won’t stop until Dharmendra Pradhan resigns and a strong, secure system is put in place to stop paper leaks in the country.”
Gandhi also took a direct swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue, contrasting the domestic student crisis with the Prime Minister’s recent international visits.
“When Modi ji was making reels while handing out candies in Italy, youth in India, tormented by paper leaks, were taking to the streets demanding justice,” Gandhi claimed. He added that the continuous failures within the testing system have “ruined the futures of lakhs of students.”
Escalating Clashes and Political Fallout
The political friction manifested on the streets as massive protest rallies broke out across major hubs, including Jaipur and Bengaluru.
Jaipur Escalation: Led by Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Govind Singh Dotasra, a massive march heading toward the BJP headquarters was intercepted by police using heavy barricading and water cannons to scatter the crowds.
State Demands: Joining the chorus, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah demanded that the Central government issue an apology and completely return the authority of conducting major medical professional exams back to individual states.
The Story Behind the Crisis
The massive public outcry traces back to the initial May 3 administration of the NEET-UG examination, which serves as the single gateway for undergraduate medical admissions across India.
Timeline of Key Events Details
May 3 NEET-UG exam administered nationwide to nearly 23 lakh students.
May 5 Exam officially cancelled following concrete evidence of a widespread question paper leak.
Mid-May The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) uncovers an organized paper-setting nexus, arresting top NTA-affiliated experts and masterminds from multiple states.
June 21 Target date scheduled for the official nationwide re-examination.
The ongoing probe by the CBI has so far resulted in multiple high-profile arrests across five states, including senior academic panel members accused of leaking localized answer sheets for hefty sums. In a bid to control the damage, the Education Ministry has announced that future iterations of the NEET-UG exam will shift permanently to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format.
However, with millions of students stuck in academic limbo, the opposition has made it clear that structural reforms alone will not suffice without immediate political accountability at the very top.
