New Delhi, July 23: Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh has sharply responded following a press conference held by Union Health Minister JP Nadda regarding the NEET issue. He stated that the government’s agitation is increasingly evident due to Rahul Gandhi’s revelations.
In a post on ‘X’, Ramesh wrote, “The press conference organized late in the evening by Union Health Minister and former BJP President JP Nadda is a direct response to Rahul Gandhi’s disclosures. This clearly indicates that the government’s agitation is on the rise. JP Nadda should move beyond this childish finger-pointing and acknowledge the unprecedented failures of both the ministerial head and the Prime Minister.”
Ramesh emphasized that the current government established the NTA specifically to conduct examinations. He accused the government of deliberately centralizing the examination system, operating it through the NTA, and pressuring universities and states to adopt it. The NTA was created by dismantling the existing system, and it has proven to be completely compromised and incapable of fulfilling its responsibilities.
He noted, “Since the establishment of the NTA, at least nine paper leaks have occurred during its tenure. This includes incidents in 2024 when several examinations had to be canceled due to irregularities. Following the significant failures of 2024, the ministerial head promised reforms in the NTA. A committee led by K. Radhakrishnan was formed, which provided 101 recommendations for improvement. However, instead of seriously implementing these reforms, the ministerial head continued to procrastinate, displaying an unbelievable sense of complacency and arrogance.”
Ramesh pointed out that the position of Director General of the NTA, its most crucial executive role, has been held by officials in an additional charge since the 2024 paper leak, leading to yet another leak in the NEET-UG 2026, resulting in the cancellation of the exam. Even in this situation, the NTA and the higher education department shamelessly claimed before the parliamentary education committee that no paper leak had occurred. For the ministerial head, image seemed to matter more than the truth.
He further stated that, as usual, the arrogant ministerial head showed complete disregard for Parliament and its prudent suggestions, rejecting the education committee’s recommendations to strengthen the NTA simply because opposition members were included. He added, “Despite widespread outrage across the country, reports of paper leaks in the UGC-NET Sociology 2026 exam and irregularities in the UGC-NET English 2026 exam have emerged.”
The Congress MP alleged that when students took to the streets against paper leaks and the Modi government’s education policies, the Prime Minister and his ministerial head responded with unprecedented brutality against student protesters. Reports indicate the use of batons, water cannons, tear gas, and even pellet guns and shock batons against them.
He concluded, “The NEET-UG 2026 paper leak is merely a symptom; the disease runs much deeper. The anger of the country’s students is directed against the ministerial head’s widespread incompetence, the Modi government’s extremely poor education policies, and the Prime Minister’s arrogance.”
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