Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pawan Khera on Thursday, 25 June launched a sharp attack on the central government in Bhubaneswar, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET question paper leak, CBSE evaluation discrepancies, and a pattern of examination-related malpractice that, Khera alleged, has jeopardised the futures of crores of students.

What Khera Said at the Press Conference

Speaking at a press conference titled 'Chhatron Ki Goonj', organised by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC), Khera alleged that question papers had been leaked 90 times over the past 10 years, pushing the futures of seven crore students into uncertainty. He accused Pradhan of being preoccupied with making reels and celebrating Yoga Day at his Delhi residence while the examination system collapsed around him.

Khera also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Pariksha Pe Charcha' programme, arguing that the government's failure to ensure a fair examination system rendered such advice hollow. He additionally raised questions about the Prime Minister's own educational qualifications — a line of attack the Congress has deployed before.

The 'NEET-Leak-Repeat' Allegation

Khera alleged that the NEET paper leak was not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern he described as 'NEET-Leak-Repeat' — now, he claimed, a tradition. He pointed to student protests in Kota and other cities as evidence of widespread anger, and urged all political parties to set aside differences and collectively safeguard the younger generation's future.

Notably, the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' press conferences were held simultaneously in 28 cities across India on the same day, with senior Congress leaders participating in each, signalling a coordinated national campaign rather than a localised grievance.

Specific Demands Raised

Beyond Pradhan's resignation, Khera called for a complete audit of the examination system — from the printing of question papers to their delivery at examination centres. He also demanded the introduction of fixed annual dates for examinations, result declarations, and related processes to bring predictability and transparency.

Khera further argued that deploying the Air Force and armed forces to conduct student examinations was unprecedented globally and amounted to a formal acknowledgement of Pradhan's administrative failure.

Context: Mounting Pressure Over Exam Irregularities

The Congress offensive comes against the backdrop of intense national scrutiny over the NEET-UG 2024 controversy, which saw allegations of paper leaks, grace-mark anomalies, and centre-level irregularities trigger protests, court petitions, and a parliamentary debate. The CBSE evaluation discrepancy row has added another layer of student grievance. Critics argue the cumulative effect represents a systemic failure in India's high-stakes examination infrastructure, affecting millions of aspirants each year.

The government has not yet responded publicly to Thursday's Congress campaign. With the NEET controversy still before the courts and student unrest continuing in multiple states, the pressure on the Education Ministry is unlikely to ease soon.