Guwahati, 23 July (HS): Assam Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu on Thursday accused Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of attempting to gain political mileage from the NEET paper leak controversy, alleging that the Congress leader was using students' concerns to revive his party's political fortunes.

Addressing a press conference, Dr. Pegu described the NEET paper leak as an unfortunate and sensitive incident and said the Central Government had acted swiftly by arresting the accused and initiating legal proceedings. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the setting up of fast-track courts to ensure speedy justice and strict punishment for those found guilty, reflecting the government's commitment to protecting students' interests.

The minister alleged that instead of participating in a constructive debate in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress were politicising the issue. He said the BJP and its NDA allies were ready for a comprehensive discussion on examination reforms and measures to prevent future paper leaks, while accusing the Opposition of disrupting Parliament during the Monsoon Session.

Dr. Pegu further said examination paper leaks were a long-standing national challenge that required institutional reforms and collective efforts rather than political confrontation. He questioned Rahul Gandhi's silence over alleged paper leak incidents in Congress and INDIA bloc-ruled states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh. He also alleged that Rajasthan witnessed repeated examination paper leak cases during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Criticising Rahul Gandhi's recent protest outside the Prime Minister's official residence, Dr. Pegu termed it inappropriate and said it undermined the dignity of the Prime Minister's office. He also claimed that the Congress and Left parties were attempting to use students for political purposes.

Highlighting the Centre's initiatives in the education sector, Dr. Pegu said the education budget had increased significantly under the Narendra Modi government compared to the UPA regime. He also pointed to the expansion of IITs, IIMs, universities and colleges, along with an increase in academic seats, as evidence of the government's commitment to strengthening higher education.

The press conference was also attended by BJP Assam Pradesh General Secretaries Diplu Ranjan Sharma and Anup Barman, Chief Spokesperson Kishore Upadhyay and State Media Department Convenor Rupam Goswami.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash