Rahul Gandhi renews demand to sack Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET UG 2026 leak

New Delhi: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday renewed his demand that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan be sacked over the NEET UG 2026 paper leak, accusing the BJP led government of failing to take responsibility for repeated examination breaches.

Posting on X, Gandhi drew parallels with the NEET UG 2024 controversy, saying that despite a CBI probe and a committee then, the exam was not cancelled and the minister did not resign. “NEET 2024: Paper leaked. Exam not cancelled. Minister did not resign. CBI set up an investigation. A committee was formed,” he wrote.

Referring to the recent cancellation and re examination of NEET UG 2026, Gandhi questioned why Pradhan remained in office while another probe and panel were launched. “NEET 2026: Paper leaked. Exam cancelled. Minister still did not resign. CBI is investigating again. Another committee will be formed,” he said, urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond.

Gandhi also alleged that the NEET UG 2026 question paper had been circulated two days before the exam and accused a nexus involving the RSS, the BJP and appointees in educational bodies of profiting at students’ expense. He criticised the process of appointing university vice chancellors, saying ideological loyalty now outweighs merit.

A day earlier Gandhi released a video claiming the paper was shared prior to the examination. The re examination for NEET UG 2026 has been scheduled for June 21.

(Inputs from IANS)