Rahul Gandhi Demands Resignation of Education and Home Ministers Over NEET Paper Leak
Opposition Leader's Protest Against Government
Screengrab image of Congress leaders sitting on dharna right in front of PM residence
(Source: @griglani/X)
New Delhi, July 22: Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, has accused the government of taking advantage of students and has called for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Home Minister Amit Shah in light of the NEET paper leak scandal.
During a sit-in protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, where he was briefly detained by Delhi Police, Gandhi emphasized the need for a discussion on this matter in both Houses of Parliament.
After a meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker, he expressed his desire for a debate regarding the treatment of students during protests that occurred on Monday.
“The Speaker indicated that he would need to seek permission from the Government, but it became evident shortly after that the Government was not inclined to hold a debate,” he stated.
In response, the Opposition chose to stage a dharna outside the Prime Minister’s residence to highlight the students' plight.
“This is a critical issue for the nation, particularly regarding the treatment of students,” Gandhi remarked.
He raised concerns about the education system, questioning: “Why is the Indian education system failing? Why are examination papers leaking? Why is education becoming increasingly unaffordable? Why must families face financial ruin to educate their children? These are valid inquiries, and there is nothing inappropriate about asking them.”
Gandhi outlined the students' demands, which include the resignation of Pradhan and Shah, accountability for those who mistreated students, and the withdrawal of all legal cases against them.
He further stated that the entire Opposition is pushing for a discussion on this issue in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
“My advice to Modi ji, as LoP, is to apologize to the students for the actions of your Government and Home Minister and to initiate reforms in the examination and education systems promptly,” Gandhi added.
Expressing gratitude to supporters, he said: “Thank you all for standing with us. To everyone advocating for the students' cause, I sincerely appreciate your support.”
This confrontation underscores the growing divide between the government and the Opposition regarding the critical issue of paper leaks in competitive exams, which continues to impact countless students nationwide.