Congress leader Gulam Ahmad Meer demanded the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Prasad in Guwahati, Assam [1].
The demand follows widespread allegations of paper leaks during the NEET-UG examinations. This controversy has sparked significant public distrust in the integrity of the national medical entrance system and the ministry's ability to secure examinations [2].
Speaking June 29, 2024 [1], Meer said the minister must step down due to the failure of the examination process. The Congress leader said the government has lost the confidence of students and parents across the country.
"Dharmendra Pradhan should resign immediately," Meer said [1].
Beyond the call for resignation, the Congress party has expanded its protests to include grassroots mobilization. The party announced it would organize candle marches across 20 districts [2] to highlight the grievances of affected students, and demand accountability from the central government.
These protests are part of a broader effort by the opposition to pressure the ministry into implementing systemic reforms. The focus remains on the vulnerability of the NEET-UG process to leaks, which critics say compromises the merit-based admission system for medical colleges.
“"Dharmendra Pradhan should resign immediately,"”
The demand for the Education Minister's resignation reflects the high political stakes surrounding the NEET-UG leaks. By organizing district-level protests, the Congress party is attempting to transform a technical examination failure into a broader narrative of government incompetence, potentially mobilizing a large demographic of frustrated students and parents ahead of future electoral cycles.
