NEET Paper Leak Row Sparks Outrage, Congress Slams Centre Over Students’ Future

The controversy surrounding the NEET paper leak has taken a political turn, with the Congress strongly criticizing the central government and raising concerns about the impact on students across the country.

Shimla District Congress Committee (Urban) President Inderjit Singh, while addressing a press conference at Rajiv Bhawan, accused the BJP-led Centre of “playing with the future” of young aspirants preparing for competitive exams. He described the NEET paper leak as a major failure of the government and demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Speaking on the issue, Inderjit Singh expressed concern over what he called a worrying trend. He claimed that more than 80 examination papers have been leaked in the past decade, forcing repeated cancellations and creating uncertainty for millions of students. “The silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Education Minister on such a serious issue is deeply disappointing,” he said.

Calling the NEET controversy a matter of grave concern, Singh noted the growing frustration and distress among students. He pointed out that preparing for exams like NEET requires years of hard work and significant financial investment, often amounting to ₹3–4 lakh per student. “It is heartbreaking for students to put in so much effort, only to find out on the day of the exam that it has been cancelled due to a paper leak,” he said, adding that such incidents shake trust in the education system.

He also highlighted the emotional toll the issue has taken, claiming that several students have faced severe stress, with some tragic cases of suicides linked to the controversy. Stressing the need for accountability, he said the situation reflects a deeper crisis in the country’s examination and education system.

Inderjit Singh further criticized the handling of the re-examination process, saying it created additional problems for candidates. According to him, many students were assigned centres in different states, forcing them to travel long distances and deal with further anxiety. “This shows a lack of sensitivity towards students and job seekers,” he remarked.

He also referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s campaign to mobilize youth on the issue, urging parents and society at large to stand with students and demand fairness and transparency in examinations. “Congress stands firmly with the youth of this country and is ready to fight against this injustice,” Singh said.

The press conference was also attended by State Congress Vice President Chetram Thakur, General Secretary Ramesh Thakur, District Urban Vice President Jai Prakash Pal, and Organization General Secretary Deepak Sundaryal, among others.

The issue continues to resonate strongly, reflecting growing concerns among students and parents about the credibility of competitive exams and the future of aspiring professionals.