Rajya Sabha: Opposition members attack govt over document leaks, demand cancellation of NEET exam

NEW DELHI, JULY 2: Opposition members on Tuesday cornered the government in the Rajya Sabha over the recent leaks of examination papers, saying it is hurting the future of the youth and the morale of students who have worked hard.
AAP’s Raghav Chadha said there are two IPLs in the country – one is cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and the second is the Indian Paper Leak (IPL) – and the exam-conducting agency NTA stands for ‘No Trust Anymore’. Speaking on the issue during the motion of thanks on the President’s address, some members demanded a fair probe under the supervision of the Supreme Court and questioned the government’s “silence”.
Congress leader Digvijay Singh raised the issue of alleged irregularities and corruption in the examination process and said the opposition has no confidence in the CBI probe ordered by the central government.
He accused the BJP government of creating a climate of fear in the country.
Singh alleged that the Election Commission was not fair in conducting the recent Lok Sabha polls and questioned the credibility of electronic voting machines (EVMs).
On the issue of document leak, the Congress leader said, “I want to ask only one question to the Prime Minister regarding NEET. Will you cancel this NEET 2024 exam? Yes or no.” “Will the government sack the NTA director who is involved in the scam?” Singh said during the debate on the motion of thanks to the President’s speech in the Rajya Sabha.
Ramgopal Yadav claimed that coaching centres were involved in all the document leaks that happened recently ~ from NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) to NET (National Eligibility Test).
“Everyone knows which training centres have the approach and the potential and despite this, no action has been taken against them,” he said.
Referring to the recent leaks of NEET (UG) and NET (UGC) papers, Chadha said an education and examination mafia has emerged which has pushed the future of millions of students in this country into darkness. More than 350,000 students appeared for these exams.
“India is one of the youngest countries in the world, where the average age is 29,” he said, adding that the country has the largest number of students in the world, around 31 million.
Chadha said, “There are two IPLs in this country. In one, the game is played with a ball and a bat and in the other, where the future of the youth is being played, that is the India Paper Leak.” Citing the recent leaks of documents, he said it breaks not only the heart but also the morale of a student.
He also raised the issue of unemployment in the country.
“Unemployment in the organised sector is at its peak and there is no data on the unorganised sector,” he said.
SP’s Ramji Lal Suman also expressed concern over the leak of documents and said the NTA chairman was chairman of the Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh state public service commissions before taking charge of the UPSC and later the NTA.
“The education minister said action would be taken in two months following a ministerial inquiry. I am just asking why he has not been sacked yet,” he said, adding that he was also responsible and the government should have taken action against him.
National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General Subodh Singh was sacked by the Centre on June 22 and placed on “mandatory standby” in the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) until further orders, amid a massive controversy over alleged irregularities in the NEET and NET competitive exams.
Demanding cancellation of NEET (UG) exams, Suman said that in the last 7 years, more than 70 document leak issues have come to light, affecting around 1.70 crore students.
Digvijay Singh alleged that the NTA chief was involved in the Vyapam scam. Singh said he had no confidence in the CBI, which has been tasked with investigating the NEET case.
SP chief Ram Gopal Yadav also alleged “rampant corruption” in BJP-ruled states. People who are not eligible are being provided with schemes like the Antyodaya Anna Yojana to feed themselves.
The Har Ghar Nal Yojana scheme on piped water is far from being achieved, he said.
“The Jal Shakti Ministry has spent lakhs of rupees and despite this, tap water has not reached even 5 per cent of the households,” he said, wondering where the money had gone.
Shiv Sena’s (UBT) Sanjay Raut said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted a Congress-free nation but the people of the country had taken away the majority from the BJP.
(PTI)