Assam Congress has demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged rigging in NEET-UG and UGC-NET. Former MP Ripun Bora has announced to intensify protests across the state, accusing the Center of putting the future of students in danger.
Guwahati (Assam) [भारत]June 29 (ANI): Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) on Monday intensified its campaign demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged rigging in competitive examinations. The party held press conferences in several districts of the state and accused the Center of endangering the future of students.
Congress attack on central government
Addressing a press conference in Dhemaji, former Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora criticized the Center over the alleged paper leak in exams like NEET-UG and UGC-NET. He also mentioned the issues raised by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi during the ‘Students’ Echo’ rally in Kota. Bora alleged that around 41 major paper leak incidents took place in more than 15 states between 2019 and 2024, affecting the future of around 1.4 crore candidates.
He claimed that if the recruitment examinations conducted by the Center and states in the last 12 years are taken into account, the number of such incidents would exceed 100.
‘How will the government secure the future of the country if it cannot conduct examinations?’
He alleged that apart from NEET-UG and UGC-NET, examinations conducted by CBSE, SSC, Teacher Eligibility Test and Police Recruitment Boards have also been affected by the alleged paper leak. Questioning the government’s handling of examinations, Bora said that a government which cannot conduct examinations properly cannot be trusted to secure the future of the country.
The Congress leader also targeted the Prime Minister’s educational qualifications and alleged that the country’s education system was deteriorating. Citing errors reported in Odisha’s school textbooks, Bora alleged that the BJP-led government is not serious about education.
Change in curriculum and accusation of government being insensitive
He further alleged that the government removed secularism from the curriculum, distorted the history of India’s freedom struggle and made ideologically motivated changes to the textbooks. He also alleged that the government remained insensitive despite students allegedly committing suicide following the NEET paper leak controversy.
Bora said the Congress and “aware citizens” of the country will continue their campaign till the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Congress protests across the state
Bora also addressed a similar press conference in Lakhimpur, where district Congress president Gangajyoti Payeng, APCC vice president Ghana Buragohain and APCC secretary Jintu Hazarika were also present. The party also held press conferences in Dhubri, Goalpara, Baihata Chariyali and Tamulpur as part of the campaign. In Dhubri, former MLA Abdul Baten Khandkar addressed the media, while in Goalpara, APCC spokesperson Rakesh Chakraborty led the press conference. Senior Congress leader Gopal Sarma addressed party workers and media at Baihata Chariyali, and MLA Mohibur Rehman spoke on the issue in Tamulpur as part of the ‘Students’ Echo’ campaign.
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