Priyanka Chaturvedi and Mallikarjun Kharge Criticize BJP Over Exam Paper Leaks
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 22: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over recent exam controversies. She questioned Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan about his promise to take action against those responsible for “paper leaks.”
“This is the third exam that NTA has postponed…The Education Minister said that he has taken responsibility, and whoever is found guilty, the strictest action will be taken against them. What happened to that claim?” Chaturvedi said in a video on Friday.
She also addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking how many more careers would be affected. “Today our youth are angry, today they are protesting on the roads. On how many careers will you put a question, on how many careers will you put a full stop? Prime Minister, the country is looking at you that to date you have not broken your silence,” she added.
Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also criticized the BJP government over the NEET paper leak issue. He claimed that under BJP rule, the future of two crore youth has been ruined in the last seven years. “In BJP rule, the education mafia has a free hand in corruption. In 7 years, 70 papers have been leaked and the future of 2 crore youth has been ruined. The NEET exam paper leak scam is a symbol of the utter apathy of the Modi government towards the youth. Today Congress held a protest across the country. Congress will raise the voice of the youth strongly,” Kharge posted on X.
The NEET-UG 2024 exam was conducted on May 5, and its results were declared on June 4, ahead of the scheduled date of June 14. Allegations of irregularities and paper leaks surfaced, leading to petitions filed by students seeking a re-test. The Supreme Court has allowed a re-test for over 1,500 students who were awarded “grace marks.”
Earlier, the Ministry of Education canceled the UGC-NET exam held on June 18 to ensure transparency and sanctity in the examination process. The NTA also postponed the Joint CSIR-UGC-NET Examination June 2024, which was scheduled between June 25 to June 27, due to “unavoidable circumstances and logistic issues.”
Meanwhile, the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, came into effect on Friday. It aims to prevent unfair means in public examinations and common entrance tests across the country. The Bill was passed by both Houses of Parliament in the Budget session, which concluded on February 10. It seeks to bring greater transparency, fairness, and credibility to public examinations.
