In a dramatic turn of events, the Ministry of Education announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET June 2024 exam on Wednesday evening, citing concerns over the integrity of the examination. This decision sparked a heated response from Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and other Opposition leaders, who criticised the government for alleged irregularities and mishandling of national examinations.
Mallikarjun Kharge, in a scathing attack on the Centre, raised questions about the integrity of the medical entrance exam NEET and challenged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the issues surrounding it. Referring to the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam as a victory for students, Kharge accused the Modi government of playing with the future of the youth through its actions.
The Congress party branded the government as the "paper leak government" and demanded accountability from the Education Minister in light of the recent developments.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, echoing similar sentiments, called for a thorough investigation and accountability to be established regarding the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam.
Notably, the Union Education Ministry, amidst mounting criticism, handed over the matter to the CBI for a comprehensive probe. The decision to cancel the exam has stirred controversy and raised concerns about the government's handling of crucial national examinations.
Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief, expressed suspicions of a larger conspiracy at play, alleging a pattern of malpractice in various examinations under the BJP regime. He emphasised the potential ramifications of such irregularities on the country's administration and human resources.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) representatives Priyanka Chaturvedi and Aaditya Thackeray condemned the recurring failures in conducting fair national exams, highlighting the distress faced by students and calling for accountability from the government and the NTA.