Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 22: Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Wednesday defended the Centre’s handling of the anti-NEET paper leak protests in the national capital, accusing Opposition parties of exploiting the students’ movement for political gains. At the same time, several leaders maintained that the government should engage directly with students to address their concerns.
BJP leader Brij Bhushan Singh urged the government to open channels of communication with the protesting students, saying their grievances deserved a fair hearing.
“The students are citizens of this country. They are not just Rahul Gandhi’s children; they belong to the nation and are also the government's responsibility. The government should speak with them on every issue. If there has been any lapse, it should also acknowledge it,” Singh said.
While supporting dialogue, Singh alleged that political parties had diverted the movement from its original objective. According to him, the protest initially began as a genuine student-led campaign but was later influenced by Opposition groups.
“Rahul Gandhi and the Left had no role in starting this movement. They have taken control of it because their own calls fail to attract public support. Students from across the country came together for a legitimate cause, but the agitation has now been steered in a different direction,” he claimed.
Referring to the demonstration at Jantar Mantar, Singh said he had personally witnessed the events throughout the day as his residence is located nearby.
“My home is close to Jantar Mantar, so I observed the protest from morning till evening. The students had a genuine purpose, and I support that cause. Unfortunately, the movement was later hijacked by political groups from both sides,” he added.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rahul Sinha also targeted the Congress, accusing the party of attempting to capitalise on the issue for political advantage.
“They believe they have found an issue to campaign on. But Congress should first reflect on the numerous corruption scandals associated with its own tenure before organising protests. Their entire period in power was marked by scams,” Sinha alleged.
Speaking on the NEET controversy, Sinha said the government was already aware of the concerns surrounding the examination and was taking appropriate steps.
“The NEET issue is already under the government's consideration. Necessary action is being taken, and Rahul Gandhi does not need to worry about it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader Umesh Kushwaha criticised the Congress for protesting near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence following the student demonstration and the subsequent police action.
Kushwaha alleged that instead of raising the issue through constitutional and democratic forums, Opposition leaders attempted to create unrest.
“What happened yesterday was unprecedented. In a democracy, everyone has the right to express their views, but no one has the right to violate the law. If they wanted to discuss issues affecting students, the government was prepared to debate them in Parliament. Instead, they chose a path that created disorder,” he said.
The NDA leaders maintained that while student concerns over the NEET examination should be addressed through dialogue, they accused Opposition parties of politicising the protests and disrupting public order for political purposes.