NEET paper leak: The Bihar ‘trail’ and BJP, Opposition blame game

A political row has erupted over the alleged irregularities in the medical entrance exam NEET. While the BJP leaders alleged that INDIA bloc leader Tejashwi Yadav was linked to the paper leak, the Opposition slammed the BJP over the UGC-NET and NEET fiasco and the examination process structure of the country has crashed.

Thirteen people have been arrested so far in connection with the probe into the alleged paper leak in NEET-UG 2024.

BJP alleges Tejashwi Yadav link

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha on Thursday claimed that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav's aide was linked to the alleged paper leaks and the malpractices of the NEET-UG 2024 row.

Sinha claimed that Tejashwi Yadav's aide Pritam Kumar called an employee of the Bihar Road Construction Department (RCD) to book a room for Sikandar Prasad Yadavendu, an engineer who earlier revealed an alleged involvement of a 'Mantri Ji' in the entrance exam row.

Sikandar Prasad Yadavendu claimed he recommended the stay of his nephew Anurag Yadav, a NEET aspirant, his mother and other accomplices at a government bungalow in Patna. Anurag Yadav has been arrested in connection with the exam irregularities.

BJP minister Giriraj Singh also alleged Tejashwi Yadav's hand in the paper leak. "Corruption is in RJD's DNA," Giriraj Singh said.

The graphic below demonstrates the Bihar link alleged by the BJP:

The allegations sparked a political slugfest.

BJP leader Amit Malviya tweeted, "Third Time Fail Rahul Gandhi’s ally Tejashwi Yadav’s close aide is responsible for the NEET paper leak. His sister Priyanka Vadra is accused of providing cover to the RJD scam by posting video of fraud Arushi Patel, to deflect. And he has the gall to lecture the government. That is some entitlement.

Malviya was referring to Priyanka Gandhi Vadra sharing a video of NEET candidate Arushi Patel who claimed discrepancies in her exam results. However, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday said that Patel had submitted forged documents.

Opposition’s attack on ruling BJP

The opposition parties targeted the BJP-led NDA government over the paper leak row. The Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the Trinamool Congress said that the examination process in the country has crashed and blamed BJP for the present situation.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at PM Modi, saying, “It was being said that Modi ji stopped the Russia-Ukraine war. But for some reason, Narendra Modi has not been able to stop or doesn't want to stop paper leaks in India.”

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the paper leaks were happening as the “education system has been captured by the BJP's parent organisation."

When asked about the alleged Bihar link to the paper leak, Rahul Gandhi said, “We have already said that thorough investigation should take place against all allegations. Action should be taken against those responsible.”

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Saket Gokhale said the examination process in the country has crashed and the lives of students are being destroyed. He accused the NTA of being complicit.

"After the NEET fiasco, the UGC-NET has now been cancelled - literally 1 day after students wrote the exam. The lives and futures of our students are being destroyed everyday and the NDA 1.0 govt is shameless to even take responsibility," Gokhale said.

Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar’s party leader Supriya Sule has sought the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged irregularities in the NEET and other exams.