‘Paper leak government’: Opposition takes swipe at Modi govt over cancellation of UGC-NET (2024)

Hours after the National Testing Agency (NTA) decided to cancel the UGC-NET (University Grants Commission – National Eligibility Test) exam on Wednesday, the opposition attacked the centre, terming the Modi government as a “paper leak government”. They further questioned whether the Education Minister would take responsibility now.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge slammed the government for alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance exam, questioning when Prime Minister Narendra Modi would hold a discussion titled “NEET pareeksha pe charcha.”

In a post on X, Kharge said, “Narendra Modi ji, you talk a lot about exams, but when will you hold ‘NEET pareeksha pe charcha’? The cancellation of the UGC-NET exam is a victory for the determination of lakhs of students,” he said. “This is a defeat for the Modi government’s arrogance, which attempted to harm the future of our youth,” he added.

Kharge noted that the Union Education Minister initially denied any NEET paper leaks but later acknowledged a ‘scam’ following arrests related to the education mafia in Bihar, Gujarat, and Haryana. “When will the NEET exam be cancelled?” he asked, urging the Prime Minister to take responsibility to stop his government’s rigging and paper leaks in the NEET exam too.

The Congress alleged that the Modi government is jeopardizing the future of the youth. “Yesterday, the UGC-NET exam was conducted in various cities of the country. Today, the exam was cancelled on suspicion of paper leak. First, the NEET paper was leaked and now the UGC-NET paper. The Modi government has become a ‘paper leak government’,” the party said on X.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi rebuked the government for corruption and laxity, referring to the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam due to suspected paper leaks.

“After the news of a scam in the NEET exam, now the NET exam held on June 18th has also been cancelled due to the fear of irregularities. Will accountability be fixed now? Will the Education Minister take responsibility for this laxity?” Vadra asked in a post on X.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar also took to X to question center “While NEET(UG) test remains very controversial for Bihar & Gujarat leaks (both ruled by govts of the same party) — Govt cancels the UGC-NET June 2024 examination after its integrity was compromised! Modi can’t give jobs to youth — now he can’t hold exams” he said.

Late on Wednesday night, the Union Education Ministry ordered the cancellation of UGC-NET after receiving information that the integrity of the exam had been compromised.