Gaurav Gogoi targets PM Modi over NEET row, says Centre shifting blame

Guwahati, July 23 (IANS) Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the controversy surrounding the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of evading accountability by attributing present-day failures to the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. 

Taking to his own X account, Gogoi mocked what he described as the Centre's response to the concerns raised by students protesting against the NEET examination controversy.

In his social media post, the Congress leader drew a comparison between the demands of agitating students and the Union government's reaction to the issue.

"Students' demand: Resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Prime Minister Modi's response: Fast-track courts. Cause of the confusion: Pandit Nehru," Gogoi wrote.

The Congress MP alleged that instead of accepting responsibility for the alleged lapses in the conduct of the examination, the BJP leadership was attempting to divert public attention by repeatedly invoking historical figures.

His remarks come amid continued protests by students and opposition parties across the country over the alleged paper leak and other irregularities linked to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Opposition leaders have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that the Centre failed to safeguard the integrity of one of the country's most important entrance examinations.

The controversy has sparked widespread political debate, with the Opposition accusing the Union government of mishandling the examination process and failing to prevent malpractice that affected lakhs of aspirants.

The BJP, however, has rejected the Opposition's allegations, asserting that the Centre is committed to ensuring a fair and transparent investigation into the matter.

The BJP-led Central government has accused the Opposition of politicising the issue for electoral gains and has said that appropriate legal action will be taken against all those found responsible once the ongoing investigation is completed.

The Central government has repeatedly said that it is determined to protect the credibility of public examinations and has assured students that those involved in any malpractice would face strict action in accordance with the law.

--IANS

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