The opposition parties in Odisha, including the Biju Janata Dal and the Indian National Congress, on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination.
The parties alleged that the cancellation of one of the country’s most important medical entrance examinations exposed serious lapses in the conduct and management of competitive exams under the Centre’s watch.
BJD leaders accused the BJP-led Union government of failing to ensure transparency and credibility in the examination process, claiming that lakhs of students and their families were left anxious and uncertain due to the controversy surrounding NEET-UG.
Congress leaders also launched a sharp attack on the Centre, alleging that repeated irregularities in national-level examinations had shattered the confidence of students and parents across the country.
The opposition parties said accountability must be fixed for the alleged lapses and demanded that Dharmendra Pradhan step down, taking moral responsibility for the cancellation of the examination.
The NEET-UG exam was cancelled amid allegations of paper leaks and irregularities, triggering nationwide outrage among students and political parties. The controversy has intensified the political battle between the opposition and the BJP, especially in Odisha, where Pradhan remains one of the BJP’s most prominent faces.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders defended the Union government, stating that corrective steps were being taken to ensure fairness and transparency in future examinations.
