NEET scam is Vyapam 2.0, alleges Congress

New Delhi: Further stepping up its attack on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, the Congress on Friday said 'NEET scam is Vyapam 2.0' and accused the centre of covering it up through Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and National Testing Agency (NTA).

Through his social media post X, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanded a reply from the government that if there was no paper leak, then why were 13 accused arrested in Bihar.

"If according to the Modi government, no paper was leaked in NEET, then why were these arrests made?" Kharge asked.

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— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 14, 2024 >

He said the Modi government has "misused" the NTA and "massively rigged" the marks and ranks, due to which the cut-off for reserved seats was also increased.

"It appears that a game of grace marks, paper leaks and rigging was played to deprive meritorious students from getting government admission at concessional rates," Kharge said.

Meanwhile, party spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged that the process of NEET is not 'neat', and reiterated the demand for a Supreme Court-monitored investigation into the NEET results controversy stating that the government cannot run away from its accountability.

Addressing a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Khera said, "In the last eight years, there were just seven students who have scored full marks but this year the number has jumped to 67 and the Education Minister has no answer to this".

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— Congress (@INCIndia) June 14, 2024 >

The Congress leader said the scam that has ruined the future of 24 lakh students came to light when the police in Bihar apprehended some people in a paper leak case and a similar case happened in Gujarat's Godhra.

He further said both these cases were reported from states ruled by the NDA government and now NDA can be called as 'NEET Disaster Alliance'.

Khera said the NTA tried its very best to cover up the matter in the court by saying "The grace marks were given to 1563 students due to loss of time" and quoted a Supreme Court Judgment.

"Whereas in the same judgement it is written that engineering and medical examinations do not come under this category. Students cannot be given grace marks for time loss," Khera said.

Alleging the statement by Education Minister as 'brazen' Khera said that the Congress demanded the names of examination centres of students securing more than 580 marks; 12th board marks should be matched with NEET toppers; Video recording of those centres where there were candidates with higher marks and list of those students who changed their exam centres taking advantage of the window.

He also slammed the Education Minister for calling the widespread protests, multiple court cases and tremendous outrage by students as "motivated protest".

He also questioned the timing of declaration of the NEET results. "The NEET results were deliberately declared on June 4, instead of June 14 so that there cannot be any discussion on the issue as the country was busy with the counting of votes (of the general elections)."