Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, a four-time Lok Sabha MP from Barasat in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, and one of 20 former Trinamool Congress (TMC) parliamentarians who recently joined the Tripura-based Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI), on Friday issued a measured statement on the ongoing nationwide protests over the NEET examination paper leak. The MP expressed support for students' legitimate grievances while cautioning against violence and external exploitation of the agitation.

What Ghosh Dastidar Said

In a social media statement, Ghosh Dastidar called for substantive reforms to deliver a fair and student-focused examination framework. She said systemic failures must be corrected to rebuild confidence in the process.

'Our students deserve a fair, transparent, and student-centric examination system. I therefore demand meaningful education reforms that address systemic shortcomings, ensure equity, and restore confidence in the process,' she said.

The MP also flagged concerns about incidents of violence and the possibility of outside forces attempting to hijack the student movement. She urged the Union Government, state governments, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and Parliament to respond promptly and sincerely.

'The genuine demands raised by the students must be respected and addressed with sincerity and urgency. The voice of our youth cannot be ignored. I call upon all stakeholders to prioritise dialogue, justice, and the future of our students above all else,' her statement read.

The Political Context

Ghosh Dastidar's statement carries added significance given her recent political journey. She is among 20 former TMC MPs who defected to the NCPI, a relatively new party based in Tripura. Her intervention on the NEET crisis marks one of her first major public positions since switching parties, and signals the NCPI's intent to stake out a visible role in national student politics.

The NEET paper leak controversy has triggered protests across multiple states, with students demanding cancellation of the compromised examination and a thorough overhaul of the testing system. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has faced intense scrutiny over alleged irregularities.

West Bengal CM's Warning

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, speaking to reporters separately, said his government would not block democratic protests over the NEET issue and could even facilitate rallies. However, he drew a firm line on anti-national sloganeering.

'If any anti-national slogan is raised anywhere in the procession, I will take immediate action. The country got its independence in 1947. So Azadi slogans will not be tolerated. The protesters have a democratic right to raise slogans. We will not stop that. If there is anything anti-national, leave it to me. I will completely uproot the anti-national forces from West Bengal. Be careful,' Adhikari said.

What Happens Next

With pressure mounting from multiple political quarters, the Union Government and the UGC face growing calls to announce concrete corrective steps. The convergence of voices from across the political spectrum — including a newly minted NCPI MP and the West Bengal chief minister — signals that the NEET crisis has moved well beyond a student issue into mainstream electoral politics.