The Congress has announced a nationwide agitation over the ongoing National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) controversy. The party has asked its state units to stage protests at their headquarters on Friday to demand justice for lakhs of students whose future is in jeopardy.
In a letter addressed to Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) presidents, in-charges and heads of all frontal organisations, and All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said that there is an urgent need to address the numerous complaints and concerns surrounding the NEET-UG 2024 conduct and results.
“As you are aware, the National Testing Agency (NTA) released the results of NEET-UG 2024 on 4th June 2024. The results have been marred by allegations of irregularities and paper leaks following the inflated marks of some aspirants,” the letter read.
There are concerns over inflated marks and irregularities, and grace marks without disclosing the methodology further raises doubts. “The examination has been plagued by technical glitches, malpractice, and unfair means in certain test centres. Organized corruption is evident from arrests made in Bihar, Gujarat, and Haryana, revealing a pattern of malpractice in BJP-ruled states,” the letter added.
“The Hon’ble Supreme Court has also highlighted the seriousness of these allegations, demanding zero tolerance for negligence. Such irregularities undermine the credibility of the examination process and jeopardise the future of countless dedicated students. The Congress party had promised to secure the future of the youth by enforcing strict laws against paper leaks in our manifesto,” it added.
“Against this massive corruption and irregularities in the NEET Examination and the desperate inaction and silence of the NDA Government, all Pradesh Congress Committees are requested to hold massive protests at state headquarters on Friday, 21 June 2024, demanding justice for the students. This demonstration should involve senior leaders and party functionaries.”
Thousands of students from across the country have hit the streets amid damning reports of NEET-UG question paper leaks, inflated ranks and grace marks prompting the opposition parties to demand a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the allegations.
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and National Testing Agency (NTA) to accept any mistake, if any, in conducting the NEET-UG this year and cautioned that even 0.01% negligence should be thoroughly dealt with.
The government has repeatedly denied malpractice and irregularities in NEET-UG, and also ruled out scrapping the entire examination over “problems at a handful of centres”.
Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday said that the initial information was that some students were given grace marks due to less time. “…Secondly, some irregularities have come to light at two places. I assure the students and parents that the government has taken this seriously. We have received the information and we will take all the issues to a decisive stage.”
“Even if senior officials of the NTA are found guilty, they will not be spared. A lot of improvement is required in NTA. The government is concerned about this, no culprit will be spared,” he said.
