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The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and activists gathered at Jantar Mantar on Thursday to protest against the alleged NEET paper leak.
NEW DELHI: The Indian Youth Congress (IYC) and activists gathered at Jantar Mantar on Thursday to protest against the alleged NEET paper leak. The New Indian team was on-site to cover the event. Protesters demanded justice for the 24 lakh NEET candidates and called for an end to corruption in the education system.
IYC President Srinivas Bhadravathi Venkata voiced his concerns about the alleged leaks and the issues surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 exams. He stated that these issues have caused significant distress among students and parents. Criticizing the ruling BJP government’s perceived inaction, he remarked, “This isn’t new; it’s a common BJP tactic. Historically, they’ve leaked exam papers to appease supporters. It was a major issue in UP and is now affecting Delhi. They’ve deceived millions.”
In Delhi, IYC members gathered for a “Parliament gherao” protest, vowing to persist despite facing detainment near Parliament at Jantar Mantar. Clashes with police and breaches of barricades led to their detention.
Allegations of cheating and impersonation have marred the NEET-UG exam on May 5th. The National Testing Agency (NTA), which administered the exam, faced severe criticism, prompting protests and legal actions. In response, the Central Government replaced the NTA leadership and instituted a committee to overhaul its operations. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear related petitions on July 8th.
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On Wednesday, the Bihar government transferred the investigation into the paper leak to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), resulting in several arrests.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the NTA following a petition from a learning app alleging exam manipulation. The court directed the NTA to respond by July 8th, the date of the upcoming hearing.
Protesters also called for the removal of the NTA and the resignation of Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan. They demanded that all NEET-UG candidates be allowed to retake the exam and urged for centralized examinations under the Union Ministry of Education.
Shayeri, a student representative from the All India Students’ Association (AISA), told this reporter, “Universities under the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA) opt for loans from independent organizations instead of government funding for public institutions. According to the Society Registrations Act, NTA isn’t a government entity and isn’t bound by government regulations or accountable to any authority. Until NTA is abolished, exams will continue to be postponed and papers will keep leaking.”
The protests and ongoing legal actions underscore the significant discontent and demand for reform within the Indian education system. The upcoming Supreme Court hearing on July 8th will be closely watched for its potential impact on the future of NEET-UG examinations and the NTA’s role in administering them.
