NEET row at turning point: Govt agrees to debate, Congress escalates attack
The NEET paper leak row continued to escalate as the Centre agreed to a debate in Parliament while protests intensified across the country. The controversy expanded into a broader political and law-and-order challenge, marked by security reviews, clashes in Delhi and pressure from activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike.
The political battle over the NEET paper leak controversy entered a decisive phase on Wednesday after the Centre agreed to a discussion in Parliament, signalling its willingness to address the Opposition’s key demand. The Congress, however, stepped up its attack, with Rahul Gandhi insisting that accountability for the paper leak rested with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and maintaining that his resignation remained central to the party’s stand.
What started as a paper leak controversy has morphed into a political crisis. As the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest gathered momentum at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the battle over NEET moved from examination halls to the streets and Parliament, putting the government under sustained pressure over accountability and the credibility of India's exam system.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, meanwhile, said he would end his fast, now on its 26th day, only if the Centre gave an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the protests.
Here are the key developments that defined the latest phase of the NEET controversy:
Centre agrees to Parliament debate on NEET: The government agreed to hold a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament and said it was prepared for a debate under any rule and for any duration decided by the Opposition.
advertisementRahul Gandhi says education system has failed students: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabaha, Rahul Gandhi, claimed that 152 alleged paper leaks over the past decade had affected 7.5 crore students, with not a single conviction secured so far. Calling the examination system "rigged", he said quality education had become increasingly unaffordable for ordinary families.
BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of 'selective politics': BJP president JP Nadda accused Rahul Gandhi of selectively highlighting alleged paper leaks under BJP governments while ignoring similar incidents in Congress- and Opposition-ruled states. He said every allegation cited by the Leader of the Opposition would be investigated, and the government would place the facts before the nation.
Sonam Wangchuk offers to end hunger strike: Wangchuk said he would end his 25-day indefinite fast if the Centre gave an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the protests.
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CJP insists on neutral venue for talks: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reiterated that it would hold talks with the government only at a neutral venue, even as its agitation spread to several states and clashes were reported in places including Bihar.
Government likely to retain Dharmendra Pradhan: Despite mounting Opposition pressure, senior government sources indicated that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was likely to remain in the Cabinet, with the leadership believing he could not be held directly responsible for the alleged NEET paper leak.
BJP defends Centre's handling of protests: BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said the government had remained open to dialogue throughout the agitation, accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation and politicising the student movement, and rejected claims that India's examination system had collapsed.
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Centre reviews security as protests spread nationwide: The Centre conducted a high-level security review as CJP-led protests expanded across several states. According to top sources, the Intelligence Bureau chief met state DGPs and senior CAPF officers, while states were asked to remain prepared for any law-and-order situation. Maharashtra reported the highest number of protests, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Haryana.
Delhi protest turns violent; five police personnel injured: The agitation escalated in the national capital after protesters allegedly moved from Jantar Mantar to Tolstoy Marg and hurled stones and bottles at police personnel. At least five Delhi Police personnel, including ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat, were injured before the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force restored order using limited force and tear gas shells.
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Delhi HC seeks Centre, police response on force used against protesters: The Delhi High Court sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police on two petitions alleging excessive use of force against student protesters. It also directed the authorities to preserve all relevant records related to the police action, including CCTV footage and videography, and granted them four weeks to file their replies. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a separate plea challenging the police action against the protesters.
The political battle over the NEET paper leak controversy entered a decisive phase on Wednesday after the Centre agreed to a discussion in Parliament, signalling its willingness to address the Opposition’s key demand. The Congress, however, stepped up its attack, with Rahul Gandhi insisting that accountability for the paper leak rested with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and maintaining that his resignation remained central to the party’s stand.
What started as a paper leak controversy has morphed into a political crisis. As the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest gathered momentum at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the battle over NEET moved from examination halls to the streets and Parliament, putting the government under sustained pressure over accountability and the credibility of India's exam system.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, meanwhile, said he would end his fast, now on its 26th day, only if the Centre gave an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the protests.
Here are the key developments that defined the latest phase of the NEET controversy:
Centre agrees to Parliament debate on NEET: The government agreed to hold a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament and said it was prepared for a debate under any rule and for any duration decided by the Opposition.
Rahul Gandhi says education system has failed students: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabaha, Rahul Gandhi, claimed that 152 alleged paper leaks over the past decade had affected 7.5 crore students, with not a single conviction secured so far. Calling the examination system "rigged", he said quality education had become increasingly unaffordable for ordinary families.
BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of 'selective politics': BJP president JP Nadda accused Rahul Gandhi of selectively highlighting alleged paper leaks under BJP governments while ignoring similar incidents in Congress- and Opposition-ruled states. He said every allegation cited by the Leader of the Opposition would be investigated, and the government would place the facts before the nation.
Sonam Wangchuk offers to end hunger strike: Wangchuk said he would end his 25-day indefinite fast if the Centre gave an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the protests.
CJP insists on neutral venue for talks: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reiterated that it would hold talks with the government only at a neutral venue, even as its agitation spread to several states and clashes were reported in places including Bihar.
Government likely to retain Dharmendra Pradhan: Despite mounting Opposition pressure, senior government sources indicated that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was likely to remain in the Cabinet, with the leadership believing he could not be held directly responsible for the alleged NEET paper leak.
BJP defends Centre's handling of protests: BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said the government had remained open to dialogue throughout the agitation, accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation and politicising the student movement, and rejected claims that India's examination system had collapsed.
Centre reviews security as protests spread nationwide: The Centre conducted a high-level security review as CJP-led protests expanded across several states. According to top sources, the Intelligence Bureau chief met state DGPs and senior CAPF officers, while states were asked to remain prepared for any law-and-order situation. Maharashtra reported the highest number of protests, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Haryana.
Delhi protest turns violent; five police personnel injured: The agitation escalated in the national capital after protesters allegedly moved from Jantar Mantar to Tolstoy Marg and hurled stones and bottles at police personnel. At least five Delhi Police personnel, including ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat, were injured before the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force restored order using limited force and tear gas shells.
Delhi HC seeks Centre, police response on force used against protesters: The Delhi High Court sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police on two petitions alleging excessive use of force against student protesters. It also directed the authorities to preserve all relevant records related to the police action, including CCTV footage and videography, and granted them four weeks to file their replies. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a separate plea challenging the police action against the protesters.
The political battle over the NEET paper leak controversy entered a decisive phase on Wednesday after the Centre agreed to a discussion in Parliament, signalling its willingness to address the Opposition’s key demand. The Congress, however, stepped up its attack, with Rahul Gandhi insisting that accountability for the paper leak rested with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and maintaining that his resignation remained central to the party’s stand.
What started as a paper leak controversy has morphed into a political crisis. As the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest gathered momentum at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the battle over NEET moved from examination halls to the streets and Parliament, putting the government under sustained pressure over accountability and the credibility of India's exam system.
Activist Sonam Wangchuk, meanwhile, said he would end his fast, now on its 26th day, only if the Centre gave an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the protests.
Here are the key developments that defined the latest phase of the NEET controversy:
Centre agrees to Parliament debate on NEET: The government agreed to hold a discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament and said it was prepared for a debate under any rule and for any duration decided by the Opposition.
Rahul Gandhi says education system has failed students: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabaha, Rahul Gandhi, claimed that 152 alleged paper leaks over the past decade had affected 7.5 crore students, with not a single conviction secured so far. Calling the examination system "rigged", he said quality education had become increasingly unaffordable for ordinary families.
BJP accuses Rahul Gandhi of 'selective politics': BJP president JP Nadda accused Rahul Gandhi of selectively highlighting alleged paper leaks under BJP governments while ignoring similar incidents in Congress- and Opposition-ruled states. He said every allegation cited by the Leader of the Opposition would be investigated, and the government would place the facts before the nation.
Sonam Wangchuk offers to end hunger strike: Wangchuk said he would end his 25-day indefinite fast if the Centre gave an unequivocal assurance that no punitive or retaliatory action would be taken against students and youth who participated in the protests.
CJP insists on neutral venue for talks: The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reiterated that it would hold talks with the government only at a neutral venue, even as its agitation spread to several states and clashes were reported in places including Bihar.
Government likely to retain Dharmendra Pradhan: Despite mounting Opposition pressure, senior government sources indicated that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was likely to remain in the Cabinet, with the leadership believing he could not be held directly responsible for the alleged NEET paper leak.
BJP defends Centre's handling of protests: BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said the government had remained open to dialogue throughout the agitation, accused the Opposition of spreading misinformation and politicising the student movement, and rejected claims that India's examination system had collapsed.
Centre reviews security as protests spread nationwide: The Centre conducted a high-level security review as CJP-led protests expanded across several states. According to top sources, the Intelligence Bureau chief met state DGPs and senior CAPF officers, while states were asked to remain prepared for any law-and-order situation. Maharashtra reported the highest number of protests, followed by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Haryana.
Delhi protest turns violent; five police personnel injured: The agitation escalated in the national capital after protesters allegedly moved from Jantar Mantar to Tolstoy Marg and hurled stones and bottles at police personnel. At least five Delhi Police personnel, including ACP Connaught Place Vivek Bhagat, were injured before the Delhi Police and the Rapid Action Force restored order using limited force and tear gas shells.
Delhi HC seeks Centre, police response on force used against protesters: The Delhi High Court sought responses from the Centre and Delhi Police on two petitions alleging excessive use of force against student protesters. It also directed the authorities to preserve all relevant records related to the police action, including CCTV footage and videography, and granted them four weeks to file their replies. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court declined an urgent hearing on a separate plea challenging the police action against the protesters.
