Rajasthan Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Madan Rathore on 16 May launched a pointed counter-offensive against the Congress over the NEET paper leak controversy, asserting that the opposition had no moral standing to question the ruling government on examination irregularities. Rathore alleged that the former Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) chairman — described as a close aide of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot — had already been arrested in a separate paper leak case, turning the Congress's own record into the centrepiece of his argument.

The Arrest at the Heart of the Attack

Addressing the media on the sidelines of the third session of the 'Pandit Deendayal Mahabhiyan' training camp at Paliwal Jain Bhawan in Hasan Khan, Alwar, Rathore accused the Congress of being 'neck-deep in corruption.' 'The RPSC Chairman, who was among Ashok Gehlot's closest aides, was arrested in a paper leak case. They are themselves neck-deep in corruption, yet they question us,' he said. The allegation places the controversy squarely on the Congress's handling of public examinations during its tenure in Rajasthan.

BJP's Defence of the NTA's Response

Rathore defended the National Testing Agency (NTA), praising it for swiftly cancelling the examination and announcing a fresh date. He argued that prompt corrective action was essential to protect students' preparation cycles, drawing a contrast with the Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment examination controversy, where candidates who had already secured jobs were asked to reappear after a prolonged gap. 'Asking them to appear again after such a gap becomes difficult because they are no longer in regular practice,' he said.

Congress Record Under Scrutiny

Rathore claimed that 17 examination papers were leaked during the previous Congress government's tenure in Rajasthan, while asserting that 'not a single paper has leaked under the current Bhajanlal Sharma government.' He urged BJP workers at the training camp to educate the public about the party's ideology and highlight what he characterised as the corruption record of the earlier Congress administration. He added that strict action would be taken against anyone found guilty in the NEET paper leak case, and that the police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) had been placed on high alert to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Other Developments at the Training Camp

On the question of pending political appointments and cabinet expansion in Rajasthan, Rathore indicated that decisions could be made soon, though he clarified that both matters fall under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma's discretion. He also referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal to avoid wastage of petrol and diesel, saying several leaders now travel together in a single vehicle to cut unnecessary expenditure. Union Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Minister of State for Forests Sanjay Sharma were also present at the camp alongside district leaders and party workers.

With the NEET row continuing to roil national politics, the BJP's counter-offensive in Rajasthan signals that the party intends to use the Congress's own examination record as a political shield — and a weapon — in the weeks ahead.