PM Modi Terms NEET Paper Leak a Grave Sin, Calls for Unity to Punish Guilty
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has termed the NEET paper leak a “grave sin,” stating that the issue is not political but directly concerns the youth of the country. Speaking at a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, the Prime Minister emphasized that the government took immediate action following reports of the leak to hold those responsible accountable.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju briefed the media on the meeting, noting that the Prime Minister highlighted the swift response of the administration. According to Rijiju, the government initiated an investigation immediately after the paper leak came to light, resulting in the arrest and jailing of 13 individuals associated with the matter.
Government Response and Re-Examination
To protect the future of the affected students, the government prioritized conducting a NEET re-examination. Rijiju stated that the re-examination was successfully completed and the results were declared without delay. The Prime Minister also reiterated that strict measures have been implemented to prevent similar paper leaks in the future.
According to an MP from Karnataka who attended the meeting, Prime Minister Modi expressed satisfaction with how the NEET re-examination was conducted. The MP noted that the Prime Minister spoke about exam leaks in general, attributing them to selfish motives, and stressed the necessity of building a robust system to safeguard the future of children.
Call for Political Unity and Systemic Reform
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi appealed to all political parties to unite in ensuring that those guilty of such crimes are punished. He noted that paper leaks are not confined to a single state or the central government but represent a nationwide challenge.
Rijiju shared that the Prime Minister called for the support of the country’s top lawyers to ensure the guilty receive the strictest possible punishment. This exemplary action, the PM noted, is necessary to prevent such incidents from recurring. He emphasized that all state governments must collaborate to eliminate paper leaks entirely.
Protests and Government Engagement
The Prime Minister’s remarks come amid widespread anger among students and parents, which has sparked protests at Jantar Mantar led by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). An MP pointed out that while the Prime Minister addressed the systemic issues of exam leaks, he did not specifically mention the ongoing protests during his address to the NDA MPs.
On Monday, Union Minister J. P. Nadda met with representatives of the CJP, marking what could be the first government acknowledgement of the month-long protest. Nadda stated that the discussion began after a proposal to hold talks came from the protesters.
