Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged systemic issues within the NEET examination process and expressed deep regret over student suicides, even stating "We have to fix the broken system," and that he "curses" himself with each incident, but simultaneously accused the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi of politicizing the controversy and attempting to disrupt student exam preparations by creating panic. Pradhan criticized the opposition for offering no constructive solutions and engaging in a "politics of abuse and allegation," while the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued their protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding his resignation through a symbolic "diaper donation drive," as the minister also revealed potential plans for NEET to transition to a computer-based format next year and pledged to combat the "paper mafia."

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged systemic issues within the NEET examination process and expressed deep regret over student suicides, even stating "We have to fix the broken system," and that he "curses" himself with each incident, but simultaneously accused the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi of politicizing the controversy and attempting to disrupt student exam preparations by creating panic. Pradhan criticized the opposition for offering no constructive solutions and engaging in a "politics of abuse and allegation," while the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued their protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding his resignation through a symbolic "diaper donation drive," as the minister also revealed potential plans for NEET to transition to a computer-based format next year and pledged to combat the "paper mafia."

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan acknowledged systemic issues within the NEET examination process and expressed deep regret over student suicides, even stating "We have to fix the broken system," and that he "curses" himself with each incident, but simultaneously accused the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi of politicizing the controversy and attempting to disrupt student exam preparations by creating panic. Pradhan criticized the opposition for offering no constructive solutions and engaging in a "politics of abuse and allegation," while the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued their protest at Jantar Mantar, demanding his resignation through a symbolic "diaper donation drive," as the minister also revealed potential plans for NEET to transition to a computer-based format next year and pledged to combat the "paper mafia."

Even as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, on Tuesday, acknowledged shortcomings in the NEET examination system and expressed anguish over student suicides, he sought to place part of the blame for the controversy on the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, accusing him and the party of politicising the issue and attempting to disrupt students' preparation for exams.

The remarks came as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) continued its sit-in protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, demanding Pradhan's resignation over alleged examination-related irregularities.

In an interview with NDTV, Pradhan admitted that the system needed reform and said student suicides weighed heavily on him.

"We have to fix the broken system," he said, adding that he "curses" himself every time there is a student suicide.

However, the education minister also accused the Congress and Rahul Gandhi of using student suicides for political purposes.

Attacking the Opposition, Pradhan alleged that the Congress had indulged in a "politics of abuse and allegation" without offering any sort of constructive solutions.

"I have not come across a single positive suggestion from Rahul Gandhi or the Congress on how to improve the system," he said.

Pradhan said he was "disappointed with Rahul's behaviour in this whole episode" and accused the Congress leader of attempting to create panic among students ahead of the examination.

"The Opposition has the right to ask questions. But three days before the exam, Rahul Gandhi held a programme in Kota to scare students, to derail students' preparations," he said.

The minister further claimed that Rahul Gandhi and the Congress wanted the re-examination process to fail and were trying to politicise the issue.

While maintaining that he held himself accountable whenever students took their own lives, Pradhan described the Opposition's use of such tragedies for political purposes as "abhorrent".

"Rahul Gandhi has every right to ask questions as Leader of Opposition. But he should not create unnecessary fear in the minds of students," India Today quoted him as saying.

Further, he said NEET may move to a computer-based format from next year and vowed to crack down on "paper mafia," according to an India Today report.

Meanwhile, the CJP announced a "diaper donation drive" as part of its campaign seeking the minister's resignation.

The group urged supporters to bring diapers to the protest site, write their demand for Pradhan's resignation on them and participate in a campaign titled ‘Diaper A Day Keeps Leaks Away’, scheduled for Tuesday evening.

"Bring a diaper, write your demand for his resignation on it, and we'll make sure it reaches the education minister," the CJP said.

The protest entered its fourth day on Tuesday.

TAGS