Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said the government had failed to demonstrate accountability for an examination crisis affecting more than two million medical aspirants. He renewed demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, an apology to students and action over the police response to demonstrations in Delhi.
The attack followed Modi’s video message promising tougher action against those involved in examination fraud, fast-track judicial proceedings and measures to strengthen the testing system. Opposition leaders said the intervention avoided the central political questions surrounding the alleged leak and did not explain why Pradhan continued in office.
Kharge argued that Parliament was the appropriate forum for the prime minister to answer questions about the administration of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for undergraduate medical admissions. He said a recorded message could not substitute for parliamentary scrutiny at a time when students and their families were seeking clarity on the integrity of the examination.
Congress has indicated that it will continue pressing the issue in both Houses. The party has maintained that any discussion would be inadequate unless responsibility was fixed at the ministerial level. It has also demanded an account of the security failures that allowed confidential examination material to be accessed before the test.
Rahul Gandhi accused Modi of underestimating students by presenting administrative assurances without addressing the demand for Pradhan’s removal. He said the controversy had moved beyond isolated malpractice and had become a test of whether the government was prepared to accept responsibility for failures under its supervision.
The government has defended its handling of the matter, pointing to investigations, proposed reforms and legal provisions intended to punish organised examination fraud. Pradhan has offered a parliamentary debate and maintained that corrective measures should be based on evidence emerging from the investigation.
Ruling alliance members have accused Congress of obstructing proceedings while demanding a discussion. They have also argued that examination leaks have occurred under governments led by several parties and that systemic reform requires cooperation rather than political confrontation.
The dispute spilled into the Parliament complex when lawmakers from the ruling National Democratic Alliance and the opposition INDIA bloc held rival demonstrations near Makar Dwar. Security personnel formed a human chain between the two groups as slogans were exchanged over the government’s response and the opposition’s tactics.
The political tension has been amplified by protests involving students, youth organisations and opposition leaders. Demonstrators have demanded Pradhan’s resignation, stronger safeguards for national examinations, compensation for affected candidates and transparent disclosure of the investigation’s findings.
Congress has also criticised the Delhi Police over its handling of protesters. Party leaders said the use of barricades, detentions and force against demonstrators reflected an attempt to suppress public anger rather than engage with students. The police have maintained that restrictions were imposed to protect sensitive areas and preserve public order.
The NEET controversy has revived concerns about the reliability of high-stakes examinations administered through large networks of centres, contractors, printing facilities and digital systems. Such tests determine access to limited university places and public-sector employment, leaving candidates vulnerable when an examination is cancelled, delayed or placed under suspicion.
The National Testing Agency has faced sustained scrutiny over question-paper security, centre management and result-processing procedures. Changes introduced after earlier controversies included a review of the agency’s structure and a narrowing of its responsibilities, but opposition parties say those measures failed to prevent another crisis.
The Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act provides prison terms and financial penalties for organised cheating, impersonation and the unauthorised disclosure of examination papers. Critics argue that stringent legislation alone cannot restore confidence without faster investigations, convictions and institutional accountability.
Congress leaders have linked the NEET dispute to wider concerns over unemployment, the expansion of private coaching and the pressure placed on families seeking medical seats. Preparation can involve years of study and substantial expenditure, making any breach of the examination system particularly damaging for candidates from lower-income households.
(IPA Service)
