Rahul Gandhi Demands Sacking of Dharmendra Pradhan Over NEET Paper Leak

New Delhi (IANS): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Saturday demanded that the government immediately remove Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET examination paper leak. He accused the government of failing to protect the future of millions of students.

In a scathing attack on the Centre, Gandhi alleged that the system had “cheated” nearly 22 lakh NEET aspirants, and he questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue.

“Twenty-two lakh NEET students have been cheated. But Modi ji is not saying a word. Remove Dharmendra Pradhan ji immediately, or take responsibility yourself. Modi ji, sack Dharmendra Pradhan now,” Gandhi stated in a post on X.

He also released a video statement claiming that criminals had circulated the NEET question paper two days before the examination.

Targeting the Education Minister, Gandhi said, “The whole country knows that the paper was distributed two days before the exam. India’s Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan says he has nothing to do with it. You have damaged the very core idea of India.”

Gandhi further alleged that a nexus involving the RSS, the BJP, and their appointees in educational institutions was using the system for profiteering at the cost of students’ futures.

“This nexus between the RSS, BJP and the people they have installed in universities has destroyed India’s education system,” he alleged.

The Congress leader also attacked the process of appointing Vice-Chancellors in universities, claiming ideological affiliation had replaced merit and academic competence.

“The whole country knows that if someone wants to become a Vice-Chancellor, knowledge or experience is no longer important. If a person is affiliated with the RSS, he or she can become a Vice-Chancellor. If you are not from the RSS, you cannot become a Vice-Chancellor,” Gandhi said.

Referring to repeated examination paper leaks across the country, he alleged that such failures had occurred “at least 80 times,” destroying the future of nearly two crore young people.

Demanding accountability, Gandhi stated that Prime Minister Modi should immediately sack the Education Minister and ensure strict punishment for the culprits responsible for the paper leak.