Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday intensified his attack on the Narendra Modi government over recurring examination paper leaks and alleged irregularities in competitive tests, accusing the system of crushing the aspirations and lives of millions of students across the country.
In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, Gandhi referred to the death of 21-year-old NEET aspirant Ritik Mishra from Lakhimpur Kheri, who had reportedly been preparing for the medical entrance examination for the third time.
“‘We will not sit for competitive examinations anymore.’ These were the final words of 21-year-old Ritik Mishra from Lakhimpur Kheri,” Gandhi wrote, adding that the student had been left “shattered” after the examination was cancelled.
The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha also mentioned another alleged suicide by a NEET aspirant in Goa and alleged that students were falling victim to a deeply flawed and corrupt system.
“This is not suicide — this is murder by the system,” Gandhi said.
Quoting figures related to alleged examination irregularities, Gandhi claimed that between 2015 and 2026, there had been 148 examination scams across the country, resulting in the cancellation of 87 examinations and affecting nearly 90 million students.
“Out of 148 scams, only one person has been punished,” he alleged. Gandhi added that the Central Bureau of Investigation had investigated 17 cases while the Enforcement Directorate had taken up 11, but “no one has been convicted.”
He further alleged that 15 scams were linked specifically to NEET, AIPMT and other medical entrance examinations. Accusing the government of protecting those responsible, Gandhi said no official or minister had resigned over the controversies.
“They are removed temporarily, only to be quietly reinstated in bigger positions later. Those who facilitate cheating are rewarded, while students appearing for examinations lose their lives,” he said.
Directly targeting the Prime Minister, Gandhi asked, “How many more Ritiks will it take to awaken your sense of accountability?”
Seeking to reassure students, he said, “My young friends, your pain is my pain. Your hard work is my hard work. Those who steal your future will have to answer for it.”
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also attacked the government over inflation and the examination controversy, saying students and ordinary citizens were facing mounting hardships.
“Students are being hit by NEET, the common people are being burdened by rising petrol and diesel prices, and women’s kitchens are being struck by rising milk prices. The Prime Minister has only sermons prepared,” Ramesh said in a separate post on X.
The Congress party has repeatedly targeted the government over alleged paper leaks and irregularities in recruitment and entrance examinations, especially after controversies surrounding NEET sparked nationwide protests and demands for greater accountability.