Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, May 14: Condemning the recurring instances of the NEET question paper leak, the Congress party has demanded that the central government take full responsibility for the fiasco and the union education minister tender his resignation immediately.

Addressing a press conference at the Dakshina Kannada district Congress office on Wednesday, May 13, KPCC vice-president and former minister B Ramanath Rai said, "The NEET question paper has been leaked three to four times since 2020. The central government must inform the public about the current stage of the investigations into these leaks and reveal who has been punished so far. If strict action had been taken against the culprits earlier, this recent leak could have been prevented."

Rai further alleged the possibility of a coaching centre mafia, operating with the backing of retired government officials and ministers, being behind these continuous paper leaks.

Digressing from the NEET issue, Rai also criticized the economic policies of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. "When Modi came to power, he urged the public to give up their LPG subsidies. However, the previous UPA government led by Manmohan Singh provided subsidies precisely to ensure that the common man was not burdened by price hikes. Furthermore, wearing gold at weddings is considered an auspicious tradition for us, but the central government's current policies seem to question the very sentiments of women," he stated.

Congress leaders Shashidhar Hegde, Mamata Gatti, Appi, Vikas Shetty, Baby Kundar, Jayasheela Adyantaya, Suhan Alva, Shubhdaya Alva, and others were present at the press meet.

'Proof of central government's failure' Echoing similar sentiments, Dakshina Kannada district Congress president Harish Kumar stated that the cancellation of the NEET exam due to the paper leak is a massive blow to the public's trust in the country's education system.

"This is clear evidence of the central BJP government's failure. Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan must take moral responsibility for this mess and resign immediately. The central government must track down the culprits, impose strict punishments, and establish a transparent, foolproof examination system to ensure such incidents do not recur in the future," Harish Kumar demanded.