Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Thursday, 23 July launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of deflecting accountability by invoking the legacy of India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

What Gogoi Said

Taking to his personal X account, Gogoi mocked what he characterised as the Centre's tone-deaf response to student protests. In his post, he drew a pointed contrast between what agitating students are demanding and how the Union government has responded.

'Students' demand: Resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Prime Minister Modi's response: Fast-track courts. Cause of the confusion: Pandit Nehru,' Gogoi wrote.

The Congress MP alleged that instead of owning responsibility for the alleged lapses in conducting the examination, the BJP leadership was repeatedly invoking historical figures to divert public attention from its own failures.

The NEET Controversy: Background

The NEET row erupted after allegations of a question paper leak and other irregularities surfaced, triggering protests by students and opposition parties across the country. The examination, which serves as the primary gateway to medical admissions in India, is taken by lakhs of aspirants each year, making any compromise in its integrity a matter of national concern.

Opposition leaders have been demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that the Centre failed to safeguard one of the country's most critical entrance examinations. This is not the first time a major public examination has faced credibility questions, but the scale of the NEET controversy has amplified political pressure on the ruling dispensation.

BJP's Counter-Position

The BJP has rejected the Opposition's allegations, asserting that the Centre remains committed to a fair and transparent investigation. Party leaders have accused the Opposition of politicising a student issue for electoral advantage, maintaining that strict legal action will be taken against all those found responsible once the ongoing probe concludes.

The Central government has also reiterated its commitment to protecting the credibility of public examinations, assuring students that any individual involved in malpractice will face consequences under the law.

Broader Political Fallout

Gogoi's remarks reflect a broader Congress strategy of holding the Centre directly accountable for systemic failures in examination governance. The NEET row has become one of the most politically charged education controversies in recent years, drawing in student unions, parents, and civil society groups alongside opposition parties.

Notably, the BJP's counter-narrative — centred on fast-track courts and historical blame — has itself become a point of ridicule for critics, who argue that it sidesteps the immediate question of ministerial accountability. With investigations still under way, the political battle over NEET's credibility is far from over.