Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, May 15: The Udupi District Youth Congress staged a massive protest in front of the deputy commissioner’s office on Thursday, condemning alleged large-scale irregularities and corruption in the NEET examination, one of India’s most important medical entrance tests.
The protesters expressed outrage over what they termed the central government’s failure to safeguard the future of lacs of honest students. Demonstrators also raised slogans against local Member of Parliament Kota Srinivas Poojary, accusing him of remaining silent on the issue.
Addressing the gathering, Youth Congress leader Suraiyya Anjum said that students and parents who had worked tirelessly for years were being subjected to grave injustice due to alleged question paper leaks, organised malpractice networks, and irregularities in the examination process. She alleged that the central government’s silence despite serious allegations emerging from across the country was highly condemnable and had weakened public trust in the nation’s education system.
Addressing the media, Krishna Shetty Bajagoli, president of the Udupi Youth Congress, said: “Udupi and Dakshina Kannada are known for education, and students from various states and districts come here for studies. In the last 10 years, papers have been leaked more than 29 times. Someone has to take responsibility for this. The Udupi–Chikkamagaluru MP raises questions on the state government’s decisions on issues such as the hijab row, and speaks very aggressively, but why does he not take responsibility for the NEET scam? Petrol, diesel and gas prices have also been hiked, but no one from the BJP is talking about this. Kota Srinivas Poojary, as a responsible member of parliament, should answer these questions. If he becomes well-versed in Hindi and English, he can raise the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I also warn the BJP Yuva Morcha that if they attempt to show black flags to our minister during her visit to Udupi tomorrow, we will also resort to protests during upcoming visits of BJP leaders.”
The protesters demanded a high-level, comprehensive and transparent investigation into the alleged NEET examination scam, along with immediate arrest and strict legal action against those responsible for jeopardising students’ futures. They also criticised the MP for not raising the issue in support of students from the district.
The Udupi District Youth Congress further urged the Central Government and the National Testing Agency (NTA) to introduce a stricter and more reliable examination system to prevent such incidents in future.
Warning that the agitation would continue until justice was delivered and all those involved were punished, the protesters later submitted a memorandum to the central government through the deputy commissioner. Several office-bearers, senior leaders and hundreds of Youth Congress workers from across the district participated in the demonstration.