AISA Protests Over NEET 'Irregularities', Demands Re-Exam And Resignation Of Education Minister

NEET Row: The AISA protest is aimed at addressing widespread concerns over alleged exam malpractices and ensuring a fair evaluation process for all candidates.

AISA members protested on Wednesday over 'irregularities' in NEET UG exam.

Source : AISA

NEET UG Controversy: AISA members protested outside the Education Ministry on Wednesday, demanding a re-exam for all NEET candidates. Their demands included the immediate re-conducting of the NEET exam for all students, the removal of the NTA chairperson from the inquiry committee investigating irregularities in awarding compensatory marks, and the scrapping of all tenders awarded to the NTA. The protest aimed to address widespread concerns over alleged exam malpractices and ensure a fair evaluation process for all candidates. AISA urged the government to take swift action to restore credibility to the examination system and protect the interests of students nationwide.

Addressing the protest gathering, AISA National General Secretary, Prasenjeet said, "This is no longer a matter of proving that the NEET exam was conducted improperly. It is a matter of holding the responsible people for this great failure. The buck stops at the Minister of Education. The buck stops at NTA." 

AISA DU Secretary Anjali said, "Considering the new developments by the Patna Police regarding the paper leak, we would appeal to the courts to take cognizance and immediately halt the counseling process. Counseling should be conducted based on the new results after the Re-NEET for all is conducted."

AISA JNU Secretary Nitish highlighted the multiple and repeated failures of the NTA.

"The NTA should not be allowed to continue destroying the futures of more aspirants. It's not just the NEET exam where problems have been identified; the CUET UG & PG exam, the NET exam, and others have all been repeatedly mismanaged by the NTA. The NTA as a body must be scrapped altogether," Nitish said.

During the protests, the students also demanded an immediate resignation of the Minister of Education, Dharmedra Pradha for denying the allegations made by the NEET applicants.

Even after the investigation of the Patna Police revealed that the paper leak indeed took place Dharmendra Pradhan has failed to take any concrete steps to address students' demands, AISA said.

Notably, the Economic Offences Unit (EOU) of Bihar Police arrested a suspect in the NEET paper leak case, whose name was registered for a room at the NHAI guest house in Patna. From this location, the accused was taken to a designated playschool where the NEET question paper was provided and students were asked to memorise the answers.

ABP News has reported that Sikandar, one of the arrested suspects in the NEET paper leak case, accommodated his relative Anurag Yadav and Anurag's mother Reena Kumari at the NHAI guest house in Patna. The guest house entry log records Anurag Yadav's name, with "Minister Ji" written next to it. 

A total of 13 individuals, including Sikandar, who was a Junior Engineer at Danapur Municipality, have been arrested and sent to jail in connection with the NEET paper leak case. Sikandar admitted in his confession that he had arranged accommodation for his nephew, Anurag Yadav, and Anurag's mother, Reena Kumari, at the NHAI guest house on May 4. From there, Anurag went to a playschool in Khemnichak, where he and other candidates received the question paper and were instructed to memorize the answers.

Bihar Police have already arrested over a dozen people, including some students, in connection with the alleged paper leak.