Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday blamed the 'corrupt and broken system' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the death of a NEET aspirant who allegedly died by suicide. The incident has sparked outrage amid the ongoing controversy over the NEET (UG) 2026 exam.
NEET exam controversy
The NEET (UG) 2026 examination was conducted on May 3 by the National Testing Agency (NTA). However, it was cancelled on May 12 following widespread allegations of a paper leak. The cancellation affected lakhs of students across the country, leading to protests and demands for a thorough investigation.
Rahul Gandhi's statement
In a post on social media, Rahul Gandhi expressed condolences to the family of the deceased student and held the Modi government responsible. He said, 'The death of a NEET aspirant is the outcome of the corrupt and broken system of Narendra Modi. The government's mismanagement and lack of accountability have pushed students to despair.'
Gandhi further demanded a high-level inquiry into the paper leak and called for strict action against those responsible. He also urged the government to provide mental health support to students affected by the exam fiasco.
Political reactions
The opposition has been vociferous in its criticism of the government over the NEET issue. Several other opposition leaders have also condemned the handling of the exam and the subsequent cancellation. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defended its actions, stating that the cancellation was in the interest of maintaining the integrity of the examination process.
The NTA has announced that a fresh exam will be conducted at a later date, but students remain anxious and frustrated. The tragic death has added to the growing pressure on the government to address the systemic flaws in the examination system.
