Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has launched a sharp attack on the central government over the recent NEET paper leak and the implementation of the three-language rule for CBSE Class IX students. Speaking at a press conference, Gandhi accused the Centre of compromising the future of students through negligence and divisive policies.
NEET Paper Leak Controversy
The NEET paper leak, which came to light earlier this month, has sparked outrage among students and opposition parties. Gandhi alleged that the government's failure to secure examination processes has led to widespread cheating and unfair advantage for some candidates. He demanded a thorough investigation and strict action against those responsible.
Three-Language Rule for CBSE Class IX
Gandhi also criticised the Centre's decision to enforce a three-language formula for Class IX students under the CBSE board. He argued that this policy imposes an unnecessary burden on students and undermines regional languages. The Congress leader stated that the move is an attempt to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states, violating the spirit of linguistic diversity.
Political Reactions
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hit back, accusing Gandhi of politicising education. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the NEET leak was an isolated incident and that the government has already taken steps to prevent such occurrences. On the language policy, Patra defended it as a means to promote national integration.
Student Protests
Students across several states have held protests against both the NEET paper leak and the three-language rule. In Delhi, hundreds of students gathered outside the Ministry of Education, demanding a rollback of the language policy and a fair re-examination for NEET.
Government Response
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured that the government is committed to conducting fair exams and that a high-level committee is investigating the NEET leak. Regarding the language rule, he clarified that it is optional and students can choose any three languages from a list of 14.
Rahul Gandhi's remarks come ahead of the upcoming state elections, where education and youth issues are expected to be major campaign themes. The Congress party plans to raise these matters in Parliament as well.
