NEET, CBSE row: Youth Congress activists demonstrate in Mumbai, detained

Mumbai, Jun 2 (PTI) Youth Congress workers on Tuesday organised a protest march in Mumbai amid the alleged NEET paper leak and concerns regarding the OSM system in CBSE’s board examinations, prompting the police to detain several activists.

Protesters raised slogans against the Centre and demanded transparency in the examination system and action against those involved in paper leaks.

The march, led by Indian Youth Congress president Uday Bhanu Chib, commenced at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar towards the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Shivaji Park.

Police stopped the march and detained several protesters, including Youth Congress workers and office-bearers, organisers said.

Chib alleged that repeated incidents of question paper leaks had undermined the credibility of the country’s examination system and jeopardised the future of millions of students.

“The Prime Minister’s weak leadership has allowed paper leak rackets to flourish across the country. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should take moral responsibility for the failure of the education system and resign immediately,” Chib said.

Former Maharashtra minister and Congress Working Committee member Naseem Khan alleged that paper leaks reflected corruption in the education sector, and not merely administrative negligence.

“There is widespread resentment among students and youth. The government must treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves,” Khan said.

Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap accused the government of failing to act against those responsible for examination-related scams and alleged that paper leak syndicates enjoyed political patronage.

He demanded an impartial probe into the matter.

AICC secretary Sachin Sawant said the examination system should be based solely on merit, alleging that corruption and malpractice were depriving deserving students of opportunities.

Mumbai Youth Congress president Zeenat Shabreen said the agitation would continue until students receive justice and stringent action is taken against those responsible for the alleged paper leak cases.