NEW DELHI: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has launched an attack on PM Modi and the BJP government over the NEET controversy, accusing them of attempting to cover up the NEET scam through the Education Minister and NTA.
Kharge took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to raise questions: “Why were 13 accused arrested in Bihar due to a paper leak? Why has the NEET-UG cheating racket in Godhra, Gujarat not been exposed? If, according to the Modi government, there was no paper leak in NEET, then why were these arrests made? What conclusions can be drawn from this?”
मोदी सरकार ने शिक्षा मंत्री व NTA के द्वारा NEET घोटाले की लीपापोती चालू कर दी है।
अगर NEET में पेपर लीक नहीं हुआ तो —
1. बिहार में 13 आरोपियों को पेपर लीक के चलते गिरफ़्तार क्यों किया गया?
क्या रैकेट में शामिल शिक्षा माफिया व संगठित गिरोह को पेपर के बदले ₹30-₹50 लाख तक… pic.twitter.com/r234FgUZes
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 14, 2024
Kharge contends that 24 lakh youths participate in the NEET exam, striving for 1 lakh medical seats, of which approximately 55,000 are reserved for SC, ST, OBC, and EWS categories. He alleges that the Modi government has manipulated exam scores and rankings through the NTA, resulting in unjustly inflated cut-offs for reserved seats.
ALSO READ: NEET paper leak scandal: Confession revealed
The NEET exam’s early release on June 4th, coinciding with the Lok Sabha elections, has sparked controversy. Allegations suggest this timing was aimed at concealing potential instances of corruption and cheating.
Regarding the controversy over 67 candidates securing the first rank with a perfect score of 720 out of 720 marks, the NTA committee informed the Supreme Court that 1,563 students who were given grace marks will have their results invalidated. They will be offered the option to retake the exam on June 23. On June 14, the Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and NTA in response to a plea for a CBI probe into allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities in NEET UG 2024.
Meanwhile, the Union Education Minister assured NEET examinees that the government is committed to addressing all concerns fairly and equitably.
NEET (UG) is India’s annual pre-medical entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is the sole examination for admission to undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and AYUSH courses in both government and private institutions in India, and for those seeking primary medical qualifications abroad. NEET-UG replaced the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) and various other state and college-specific exams following the NMC Act 2019.
On June 13, Congress President Kharge also alleged on X that a nexus exists between exam centers and coaching centers, facilitating a “pay money, get paper” scheme.
“The Modi government cannot evade responsibility by placing blame on the NTA,” Kharge declared. “The Congress Party demands a fair investigation supervised by the Supreme Court into the entire NEET scam. After investigation, those found guilty should face severe punishment, and compensation should be provided to lakhs of students to prevent their academic year from being wasted. Over the past decade, the Modi government has destroyed the futures of crores of youths through paper leaks and manipulation.”
The NEET issue is set to be a priority during the first parliamentary session after the Lok Sabha elections in 2024, scheduled for June 24. Kharge has emphasized that the country’s discontent on this matter will resonate strongly within Parliament.