Congress questions Modi’s silence on NEET scam, demands education minister’s removal
New Delhi: The Congress has strongly reiterated its demand for the immediate dismissal of Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the wake of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak scandal and reported discrepancies in CBSE evaluations. The party has also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s continued silence on the issue, saying it is seriously undermining the future of India’s youth and the credibility of the country’s education system.
According to Kashmir Media Service, addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Dr Kanhaiya Kumar criticised Modi for maintaining silence despite repeated paper leak incidents. He pointed out that the PM actively participates in ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ programmes, but has remained silent on more than 80 reported cases of paper leaks during the current government’s tenure.
He urged Modi to break his silence, sack the Education Minister, and take decisive steps to restore faith in the examination system.
Expressing solidarity with affected students and their parents, Dr Kumar appealed to the youth not to take any desperate steps like suicide due to systematic failures. He said that, on average, two youths die by suicide every hour in the country, attributing it to flawed government policies and a deteriorating education system.
The Congress leader also condemned sections of the media for labelling aggrieved students raising concerns over Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) evaluation discrepancies as ‘anti-national’. He said a disturbing narrative is being promoted in which only supporters of the Prime Minister are branded patriots, while those raising legitimate issues for the welfare of students are dubbed anti-nationals.
Dr Kumar further linked recurring irregularities to an erosion of public trust, saying the government is weakening the education system by handing it over to incompetent individuals.
