"Preventing Paper Leaks A National Responsibility": PM Modi On NEET Row

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for the strictest possible punishment for those responsible for the NEET paper leak and emphasised that preventing such paper leaks was a national responsibility, Minister Kiren Rijiju said quoting the Prime Minister after the NDA Parliamentary Party's 'Mangal Milan' meeting on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister, Rijiju said, urged for collective efforts to build a foolproof examination system.

"The PM called on NDA partners to remain united in supporting legislative business and appealed to opposition parties to work constructively in parliament, saying that while political differences may exist, all MPs have a shared responsibility to work for the country's future and the welfare of its youth," Rijiju said quoting the Prime Minister.

PM Modi at NDA parliamentary party's 'Mangal Milan' meeting
Photo Credit: IANS

Read: CJP Reclaims Jantar Mantar, Says Protest To Continue, Police On Alert

The comments come a day after hundreds of protesters were tear-gassed and lathicharged and stopped from marching on parliament. The protesting students, led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which emerged in May after the Supreme Court Chief Justice compared some unemployed young people to "cockroaches" during an unrelated hearing, are demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation following alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET paper leak.

Photo Credit: IANS

Photo Credit: ANI

The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) is one of the country's most competitive exams, attracting more than two million aspiring doctors. The exam was scrapped in May following allegations that the question paper was leaked in advance. The re-test was conducted late last month.

The NEET scandal came on top of another controversy, related to the online marking system used for tests taken by nearly two million high school CBSE students. Many students said the system had assigned incorrect grades or issued results to the wrong candidates.

PM Modi said the government acted immediately after reports of the NEET paper leak emerged, leading to arrests and swift action against those involved, Rijiju relayed.

The Central Bureau of Investigation, or CBI, has arrested the "kingpin" alleged to be behind the leak, naming him as a chemistry lecturer involved in the examination process for the Natinal Testing Agency (NTA). The education ministry launched a website where the public can report "suspicious claims, unauthorised content, or fraudulent activities" related to the NEET exam.

Rijiju said the Prime Minister stressed that a re-examination was conducted without delay to ensure students' futures were not affected.

The Monday protest came after activist Sonam Wangchuk was forcibly taken to hospital on Saturday, bringing an abrupt end to his 21-day hunger strike in support of the movement launched by the CJP.

Read | Barricades, Security Cordon, Questions: Inside Sonam Wangchuk's Emergency Ward

Later on Monday, Wangchuk said he would resume his hunger strike in hospital after seeing the "brutality with which peacefully protesting students are being dealt with".

PM Modi did not mention the protesters in a public address before the start of the Monsoon Session of parliament yesterday.

IANS

The CJP said two of its leaders met Union Minister JP Nadda and submitted a letter spelling out their demands after the government reached out to them in the morning. 

Read | JP Nadda-CJP Meet And A 'Missing' Letter: The Inside Story

The Minister confirmed the development, saying the meeting was held in a "cordial atmosphere" but said the proposal came from the protesters.

Read: "Listen To Students": Diljit Dosanjh To Shabana Azmi, Celebs Back Protesters

On Day 1 of the Monsoon Session, the Opposition protests over the alleged NEET paper leak and Ram temple donation theft issues disrupted the proceeding in both Houses of parliament.