Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 21: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday criticised the police action against students protesting alleged paper leaks in competitive examinations, saying the country's youth deserved to be heard rather than face force during peaceful demonstrations.
Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Priyanka said millions of students dedicate years to preparing for competitive exams, with many families making significant financial sacrifices to support their education, only to see their aspirations undermined by repeated examination irregularities.
She urged the government to engage directly with students and listen to their concerns, stating that the nation's youth deserve attention and respect from those in power.
The Congress leader also renewed her demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, arguing that ministerial accountability should be upheld in cases involving major administrative failures.
Drawing comparisons with past instances where ministers stepped down following serious public lapses, she questioned why similar standards were not being followed in the wake of repeated examination controversies.
Priyanka said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had consistently raised concerns over examination paper leaks, but alleged that governments had failed to implement lasting reforms. She claimed that investigations often resulted in action against lower-level officials while those allegedly responsible for larger irregularities escaped accountability.
Responding to questions about Rahul Gandhi's criticism of the Centre, Priyanka accused the government of being indifferent to the interests of the youth, farmers and economically weaker sections, citing its handling of both student protests and earlier farmers' agitations.
She appealed to the government to avoid using force against peaceful demonstrators and instead focus on introducing structural reforms to strengthen the country's examination system.
Priyanka called for greater transparency in conducting competitive examinations, tougher safeguards to prevent paper leaks and concrete measures to restore public confidence in recruitment and admission processes.
Her remarks come as protests over the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and other examination irregularities continue across the country, with several opposition parties backing students' demands for accountability and reforms.