Paper leak: Rahul Targets Education Minister Pradhan, Says Serious Problem in Country's Exam System

The Rahul Gandhi-led Opposition on Monday intensified its attack on the government over the NEET paper leak scam. He accused Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, of being clueless and blaming others over the issue. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav demanded Pradhan’s resignation, asserting that students would not receive justice if he remained in office. Pradhan went on to say, “his government is collectively answerable.”

As the Opposition sought his resignation, a cornered Pradhan went on to say, “he was here at the mercy of the Prime Minister and that his government is collectively answerable.”

During Question Hour and Zero Hour, Opposition MPs raised the NEET paper leak issue. However, as Mr Pradhan tried to duck the volley of questions, Speaker Om Birla eventually curtailed the discussion, citing the subjudice status of the matter.

“It is obvious to the whole country that there is a very serious problem with our examination system. This is not just the question of the NEET but major examinations also. Now, the minister has blamed everybody except himself. I don't think he understands the fundamentals of what's going on here. The issue is that there are millions of students in this country who are extremely concerned about what is going on and who are convinced that the Indian examination system is a fraud. Millions of people believe that if you are rich, you can buy the Indian examination system, and this is the same feeling we as the Opposition has. This is why we are asking some very simple questions to the honorable minister: As this is a systemic issue, what exactly are you doing to fix the issue at a systemic level?” Gandhi questioned before being interrupted by Birla.

Birla responded by urging collective efforts to improve the system and warned against generalising about all exams, leading to the Opposition staging a walkout.

Gandhi later told media that the Opposition will keep pressuring the government on NEET.

Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP-led NDA government of a poor track record on paper leaks and demanded a centre-wise breakup of NEET results. Highlighting unusually high pass rates in certain centres, he questioned the infrastructure of these exam sites.

In response to Congress MP Manickam Tagore's allegations of 70 paper leaks in seven years, Pradhan stated that his government was transparent and accountable. "I am here at the mercy of my leader, the Prime Minister, and whenever accountability comes, my government is collectively answerable to that… We are hiding nothing... Everything is on record. There is no evidence of paper leak has been found in the last 7 years. This matter is going on before the Supreme Court. I can say with full responsibility that more than 240 exams have been conducted successfully after NTA was set up and more than five crore students applied and more than 4.5 crore students participated…A lie will not become truth just by shouting. The fact that the Leader of Opposition says that the country's examination system is rubbish, is highly condemnable...” responded Pradhan.

During Zero Hour, Congress MP Hibi Eden called for a high-level committee to investigate the NEET paper leak incidents, citing irregularities in exam conduct and selection of centres.

Later, Pradhan took to social media to criticise the UPA regime and Akhilesh Yadav's tenure as UP CM for their own issues with paper leaks, accusing them of shedding "crocodile tears" and failing to implement necessary reforms to curb malpractices in educational institutions.