NEET paper leak: RSS destroyed nation’s education system, Rahul slams
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New Delhi: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government over the NEET examination paper leak controversy, demanding the immediate removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Cabinet and holding the Prime Minister politically responsible for what he described as the collapse of the country’s education system.
In a video statement issued amid the widening outrage over the leak, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the BJP-RSS combine had systematically damaged India’s education structure by prioritising ideological loyalty over academic merit in key educational appointments. He claimed that expertise and experience were no longer the primary criteria for appointments such as vice chancellors in universities, and instead accused the ruling establishment of promoting individuals aligned with RSS ideology. According to him, this political interference had deeply weakened the credibility of national examinations and institutions.
Rahul Gandhi further alleged that the NEET question paper had been circulating through WhatsApp groups two days before the examination, despite repeated denials by Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan regarding any involvement or institutional failure. He said the controversy had destroyed the hard work and future prospects of nearly 2.2 million medical aspirants who appeared for the examination.
The attack from the opposition comes after the government cancelled the NEET examination held on May 3, following the exposure of the paper leak scandal. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan later announced that the cancelled examination would be reconducted on June 21 and stated that NEET examinations would shift entirely to a computer-based format from next year onward. He also maintained that the government would adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards irregularities and prioritise students’ futures.
However, opposition parties intensified pressure on the Centre, alleging that nearly 80 examination paper leak incidents had occurred across the country in recent years, affecting the future of almost two crore young people. The opposition has demanded strict punishment for those involved and renewed calls for the minister’s resignation.