NEET, UGC-NET row: Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi demands NTA chairman's suspension

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the National Testing Agency's (NTA) decision to cancel the UGC-NET and NEET exams, Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has strongly criticized the agency's handling of the examination process, asserting that the future of lakhs of students is now uncertain.

Assam Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi accused the NTA of failing in its responsibilities, stating, “NTA has failed. After the cancellation of the NEET and UGC-NET exams, the future of lakhs of students is in the dark.”

“We have been raising concerns about irregularities in the examinations, but both Prime Minister Modi and the education minister claimed that NTA did nothing wrong. Now, it is clear that there has been negligence,” the Assam Congress MP said.

"Prime Minister Modi has failed the youth of India. With the NEET exam, 24 lakh people have been disappointed, and through NET exam 9 lakh students have been betrayed. Yet the PM chooses to be silent," Gogoi said

The Assam Congress MP further said: "Rahul Gandhi and Congress will not let them go. Tomorrow, Congress party will hold a nationwide protest on this matter. Rahul Gandhi will raise the matter of NEET students in the House."

He went on to demand the suspension of the NTA chairman, citing a lack of accountability and oversight.

“I believe the NTA Chairman should be suspended. The cancellation of the exam and the subsequent chaos have shown a clear failure in the system,” Gogoi added.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi has strongly condemned the current state of India's educational institutions, attributing recent issues with the NEET and UGC-NET exams to what he calls the ‘capture’ of educational institutions by the BJP and its affiliated organizations.

Addressing the controversy surrounding the cancellation of the UGC-NET exam and the ongoing NEET issues, Gandhi stated, “It’s happening because all our institutions have been captured. Our vice-chancellors are placed not based on merit, but because they belong to a particular organization. This organization and the BJP have penetrated our education system and destroyed it.”

He drew a parallel between the current situation in the education sector and the economic disruption caused by demonetization.

“What was done by Narendra Modi to the economy with demonetization has now been done to the education system,” Gandhi said.

“The reason this is happening and the reason you're suffering is because an independent, objective education system has been demolished.”

“It is very important that the people who are guilty here are brought to book and they are punished,” he insisted.

On the other hand, Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre, the National Testing Agency (NTA), and other relevant authorities in response to petitions calling for the cancellation of the NEET-UG 2024 exam.

The NEET-UG 2024 exam was held on May 05 across 4750 centres, with around 24 lakh candidates appearing for the test.