Congress Leader Says 22 Lakh Students ‘Betrayed’, Accuses Government Of Destroying Education System
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak controversy, demanding the immediate removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a strongly worded post on X, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of failing millions of students and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi must either dismiss Dharmendra Pradhan or take responsibility himself.
“Modi ji, sack Dharmendra Pradhan ji now,” Rahul Gandhi wrote.
NEET Exam Cancelled After Paper Leak Allegations
The controversy erupted after allegations surfaced claiming that the NEET-UG examination paper had leaked before the test.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate), conducted for admission to medical colleges across India, was held on May 3 but was later cancelled following claims of irregularities and paper leaks.
The issue triggered protests and outrage among students and parents across the country.
The government has now announced a re-examination scheduled for June 21.
Rahul Gandhi Says 22 Lakh Students Were ‘Cheated’
Rahul Gandhi claimed that nearly 22 lakh students had spent years preparing for the highly competitive medical entrance examination, only to see their efforts destroyed due to alleged corruption and mismanagement.
He alleged that the examination paper was circulated on WhatsApp before the test.
“Twenty-two lakh students worked day and night for two years. Their hard work was destroyed,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Congress Targets Education Minister
The Congress leader accused Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan of refusing to take accountability for the controversy.
Rahul Gandhi alleged that recommendations made by committees regarding examination reforms and transparency were ignored by the government.
He questioned how repeated examination paper leaks were continuing despite repeated controversies across the country.
‘RSS-BJP Nexus Has Damaged Education System’: Rahul Gandhi
Escalating his criticism further, Rahul Gandhi alleged that India’s education system had been damaged by what he described as a nexus involving the RSS, BJP and university administrators.
He claimed appointments in universities were increasingly influenced by ideological affiliation rather than merit or academic expertise.
According to Rahul Gandhi, Vice Chancellor appointments were being made based on political and ideological loyalty.
Rahul Gandhi Mentions Repeated Paper Leak Cases
The Congress MP also linked the NEET controversy to repeated examination paper leaks reported across India in recent years.
He claimed that examination papers had leaked multiple times nationwide, affecting the future of crores of students.
Rahul Gandhi said repeated irregularities had severely damaged trust in the country’s education system.
Demand For Strict Action Against Accused
Rahul Gandhi demanded immediate action against everyone allegedly involved in the paper leak case.
He urged the government to arrest the accused and ensure strict punishment.
At the same time, he repeated his demand that Dharmendra Pradhan be removed from the Union Cabinet.
“Those responsible should be arrested and sent to jail. Modi ji should sack Dharmendra Pradhan immediately,” Rahul Gandhi said.
NEET Row Continues To Trigger Political Battle
The NEET controversy has now turned into a major political flashpoint between the opposition and the BJP-led central government.
While opposition parties continue accusing the government of failing students, the Centre has maintained that action is being taken to ensure a fair re-examination process.
The issue has once again brought the spotlight on examination security, transparency and accountability within India’s education system.
