New Delhi, 19 June (H.S.): Indian National Students' Union (NSUI) in-charge Kanhaiya Kumar on Friday said the Congress is committed to ending the recurring incidents of paper leaks across the country and will fight this battle from Parliament to the streets. He asserted that the party would strive to ensure that education is treated once again as a fundamental right of every citizen rather than a profit-making enterprise.

Addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi, Kanhaiya Kumar launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister and the Union Education Minister over the alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) and other competitive examinations. He demanded the immediate resignation of the Education Minister and called for the National Testing Agency (NTA) to be completely abolished.

Questioning the state of the country's education system, Kumar pointed out that Albert Einstein had reportedly been described as a pilot in the Odisha school curriculum. He also cited an incident in Rajasthan where candidates appearing for an examination were allegedly handed answer sheets instead of question papers.

Thousands of such mistakes are taking place before our eyes. How can the dream of a 'Developed India' be realised by keeping the country's citizens uneducated and unemployed? he asked.

The NSUI leader also expressed deep concern over the mental health of students. Referring to various reports, he said uncertainty caused by repeated paper leaks has pushed many students into depression. He alleged that ministers remain indifferent to the plight of ordinary students because their own children study abroad.

Referring to the presentation made by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Kota and the country's education system in Parliament, the Congress alleged that the government was attempting to cover up the seriousness of the issue instead of addressing it. The party further claimed that the introduction of lateral entry into government institutions, including the UPSC, was depriving deserving young aspirants of the opportunity to become civil servants through merit and hard work.

Kumar further alleged that education in the country has been transformed from a fundamental right into a commercial enterprise, where the prevailing approach has become, Donate funds and run businesses.

Appealing to students and examination aspirants across the country, Kanhaiya Kumar urged them not to take any extreme or self-destructive steps. Offering words of reassurance, he said, This is neither your fault nor your parents' fault. You have not failed; it is the system that has failed.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar