New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has sharply criticized the Narendra Modi government following the cancellation of the UGC-NET examination. Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Gandhi accused the BJP and its parent organization of capturing and corrupting Indias education system.Allegations of paper leaksGandhi referenced numerous complaints of paper leaks received during the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, underscoring the persistent issue. During Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, thousands complained about paper leaks, he stated.He also drew a controversial comparison, “It was being said that Modi ji stopped the Russia-Ukraine war. But due to some reasons, Narendra Modi has not been able to stop or doesnt want to stop paper leaks in India.”Claims of merit being overlooked in appointmentsGandhi further alleged that institutional appointments are driven by affiliation rather than merit. “Our Vice-Chancellors are placed not based on merit but because they belong to a particular organization. This organization and the BJP have penetrated our education system and destroyed it,” he added.Comparing demonetization to education policiesDrawing parallels with demonetization, Gandhi claimed that the current administration has similarly disrupted the education system. “What was done by Narendra Modi to the economy with demonetization, has now been done to the education system. The reason this is happening and the reason youre suffering is because an independent, objective education system has been demolished,” he asserted.Call for Parliamentary actionGandhi emphasized the need for accountability, insisting that those responsible for the current situation must be punished. “It is very important that the people who are guilty here are brought to book and they are punished,” he said.He also announced that the Congress party would raise this issue in the upcoming Monsoon session of Parliament, which begins on June 24.LIVE: Special Congress Party Briefing by Shri @RahulGandhi at AICC HQ. https://t.co/mxXjUsJvAp— Congress (@INCIndia) June 20, 2024Background on UGC-NET examination cancellationThe controversy erupted after the Education Ministry announced the cancellation of the UGC-NET examination, which had been conducted across the country just a day prior. The decision came after the University Grants Commission (UGC) received inputs from the National Cyber Crime Threat Analytics Unit of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to the ministry, these inputs suggested that the integrity of the examination might have been compromised.
