The NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test) exam controversy has escalated into a significant political dispute in Bihar, following allegations of leaked question papers and preferential marking. The controversy erupted after four men claimed the paper was leaked 24 hours before the exam on May 4.
Key Individuals Involved
The accused include NEET candidate Anurag Yadav, his uncle Sikandar Yadavendu, and two others, Nitish Kumar and Amit Anand. Anurag Yadav admitted his uncle provided him with the leaked paper, which contained the exact questions featured in the exam. Sikandar Yadavendu confessed that Kumar and Anand offered the paper for Rs 32 lakh.
Political Implications
The revelations have intensified a political clash between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), part of the ruling coalition with the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)], and the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
The BJP’s Deputy Chief Minister in Bihar, Vijay Sinha, alleged that Sikandar Yadavendu is connected to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav’s aide, Pritam Yadav. Sinha also junked that Yadavendu stayed at a guesthouse owned by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which falls under the central government’s Road Transport Ministry.
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The RJD has countered by accusing the BJP and JD(U) of being linked to other accused individuals, adding fuel to the political fire.
Legal and Administrative Actions
In addition to the political fallout, the National Testing Agency (NTA), responsible for conducting NEET, has faced severe criticism. The Supreme Court intervened, leading to the cancellation of grace marks awarded to 1,563 candidates. These students can now either accept their previous scores or retake the exam on June 23.
The Supreme Court sternly admonished the NTA, emphasizing that even a minimal chance of negligence must be addressed promptly. This warning came after an unusually high number of candidates scored perfect marks, prompting petitions for redress.
Wider Impact
The NEET controversy is not limited to Bihar; it has reverberated across other states and the central political landscape. The Congress-led INDIA bloc has seized the opportunity to target the ruling BJP. Prominent opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and Saket Gokhale, have all criticized the BJP over the issue.
Also Read: ‘Should be thoroughly dealt with’: Supreme Court pulls up NTA amid NEET row
Adding to the government’s woes, the UGC-NET exam, also conducted by the NTA, was scrapped for the year due to concerns over its integrity. This decision affected over 11 lakh registered candidates.
Prime Minister Modi’s Challenges
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose government relies on coalition support from Bihar’s JD(U) and Andhra Pradesh’s TDP, now faces significant challenges as he prepares for the first session of Parliament under his new coalition government.
The unfolding NEET controversy and its political ramifications highlight the growing discontent and the need for robust measures to restore trust in the examination system.
