PrintFriendly
Bharatiya Janata Party Former National President and Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Chemicals and Fertilizers Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda addressed a press conference at the party’s central office in New Delhi on Wednesday and said that the Opposition should rise above politics and engage in a constructive discussion on the serious issue of the NEET paper leak so that a permanent solution can be found to this matter, which concerns the future of millions of students. The Union Minister asserted that the Modi government is prepared to hold a detailed discussion in Parliament, formulate an effective policy, and ensure justice for the students.
Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda said that regarding the demands raised by the students and the issue of paper leaks highlighted by them, his first appeal is that the matter should not be politicised, nor should any attempt be made to derive political benefit from it. This is a serious issue that requires serious discussion. Today at 4:00 PM, the Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of India, Rahul Gandhi, referred to nearly 150 incidents of paper leaks during his presentation. This is a matter that requires investigation, and the government is a responsible government. Therefore, every case will be investigated, and based on the findings of the investigation, the truth will be placed before the people and the nation.
The Union Minister stated that if we talk about Jammu & Kashmir, there was a paper leak in the Service Selection Board examination, where the Congress–National Conference (NC) government is in power. Similarly, there was a paper leak in the Himachal Pradesh School Examination Board examination, where the Congress government is in power. In Jharkhand, the Hindi and Science papers of the JAC examination were leaked, where the Congress–Jharkhand Mukti Morcha government is in power. In Telangana, the Intermediate language examination paper was leaked, where the Congress and CPI-supported government is in power. The SSC language examination paper was also leaked in Telangana, where the Congress and CPI-supported government is in power. In Tamil Nadu, there was also a paper leak during the B.Ed. course examination conducted by the Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University Board. At that time as well, the state had an Opposition government.
Shri Nadda asserted that in West Bengal, the Police Constable Recruitment Examination paper was leaked when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government was in power. In Punjab, there was also a paper leak and irregularities in the Punjab Subordinate Services Selection Board Group-B examination. Similarly, in Kerala, irregularities were reported in 26 examinations conducted by the State Public Service Commission (PSC). In Karnataka, where the Congress government is in power, the Preparatory Board examination and the PUC examination papers were also leaked. For the time being, we have cited only a few examples, whereas the list is quite long and can be discussed in greater detail during the course of the discussion. Why is the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, being so selective? Why did Rahul Gandhi not mention such incidents that occurred during the tenure of the UPA and UPA-supported governments, which he now refers to as the INDI coalition or INDI Alliance, and why did he choose to distance himself from them?
Former BJP National President Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda said that this clearly demonstrates that Rahul Gandhi’s objective is not the welfare of students. His intention is neither to expand access to education, improve the quality of education, nor ensure justice for students. Instead, Rahul Gandhi is attempting to derive political mileage from students’ concerns and demands and exploit them for political gains, which is unfortunate. This is not the time to divide such incidents on the basis of “our government, your government, or their government.” It is a serious issue. As we have already cited a few examples, the list of such incidents is extensive and includes paper leak cases that occurred during the tenure of UPA governments as well. The discussion must rise above allegations and counter-allegations and be conducted with the seriousness the issue deserves, and Parliament is the most appropriate forum for such a discussion. The government is prepared for a detailed debate on the matter so that the causes of paper leaks, the individuals involved, and the steps taken by the Central Government to address the issue can be examined comprehensively.
Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda stated that whenever any case of a paper leak has come to the government’s notice, it has been addressed with due seriousness, and there is a need to deliberate on how other governments should also deal with such cases. It is essential to identify the key issues that require deeper examination so that effective solutions can be found and injustice is not done to crores of students. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA are treating this issue with the utmost seriousness. That is why the government wants a discussion on the matter in Parliament. Whether it is a short-duration discussion or a long-duration discussion, the government is prepared for whatever time is allocated by the Business Advisory Committee. As the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, he has always maintained that the government is ready to debate the issue for as many hours as the Opposition desires. The Opposition should not keep shifting the goalposts on this issue. It should not be reduced to a matter of allegations and counter-allegations.
The Union Minister asserted that serious thought must be given to how this problem can be resolved. Parliament is the most appropriate forum where this issue can be deliberated upon in depth. The Opposition may decide the duration of the discussion, and every aspect of the issue should be discussed comprehensively so that a concrete policy can be formulated. The children are neither the responsibility of any one political party nor of any one government; they are the future of the nation. Safeguarding the future of the country is an equal responsibility of both the government and the Opposition. Therefore, the Opposition should also fulfil its responsibility, and everyone should work together to find a permanent solution to this problem. This is all we wish to say today. We once again assure the nation that under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, the government is a responsible and sensitive government that has always maintained that all issues should be discussed in Parliament, and the government is fully prepared for such a discussion.