NEW DELHI, June 4 (H.S.): Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday described the suicide of NEET aspirant Akanksha Chaturvedi from Madhya Pradesh as a consequence of a corrupt and failed system. He said that the education system has suffered severe damage in recent years and that the country’s youth are paying the price for it.

In a post on the social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi said that Akanksha aspired to become a doctor and serve society. He noted that her father, a farmer, had taken a loan of Rs 3 lakh through a Kisan Credit Card and worked as a cook in Nagpur to support her medical entrance examination preparations. Despite the family’s efforts, he said, uncertainty surrounding the NEET examination and allegations of question paper leaks contributed to her death by suicide.

He also questioned Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stating that so far only committees and investigations have been announced, while no systemic reforms have been implemented and no accountability has been ensured.

It is noted that 18-year-old Akanksha Chaturvedi, a resident of Mauganj district in Madhya Pradesh, was preparing for the medical entrance examination while staying in Nagpur. She died by suicide on May 20. A few days later, her family found a handwritten note in which she apologised to her parents.

In the letter, Akanksha wrote that her parents had high expectations of her becoming a doctor, but she no longer had the courage to attempt the NEET examination again. She stated that despite hopes of scoring well in her first attempt, circumstances had shaken her confidence and left her uncertain about her future. In the note, she expressed remorse to her parents, holding herself responsible for not living up to their expectations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar