Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday launched a sharp attack on the government in Jaipur, targeting rising fuel prices, persistent inflation, the NEET paper leak controversy spanning three consecutive years, and what he described as a failure of governance and foreign policy. Pilot announced that the opposition would launch a sustained, statewide agitation across Rajasthan and other parts of the country to press these demands.

Fuel Prices and Inflation

Pilot alleged that petrol and diesel prices have risen steadily since election results were declared, and questioned why the government withheld price hikes until after polling. He argued that fuel price increases act as a multiplier across the economy, driving up the cost of every essential commodity and service.

'When petrol and diesel prices rise, inflation spreads across the economy and affects every household,' he said, accusing the government of ignoring inflation while focusing on electoral politics and targeting the opposition. He also took aim at official advisories urging citizens to cut back on cooking oil and gold, calling them tone-deaf in the face of rising input costs.

NEET Paper Leak: Three Years, No Accountability

Pilot reserved his sharpest criticism for the handling of the NEET examination controversy, alleging that the paper has been compromised in 2024, 2025, and 2026 — three consecutive years. He argued that transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) does not absolve the government of institutional responsibility.

'The government cancels examinations only after culprits are caught. How many other examinations may have witnessed malpractice that never came to light?' he asked. Pilot alleged that organised 'education mafias' — not students — were behind the leaks, describing operations run by 'organised kingpins' who spend crores to procure papers. He noted that the leaks came to light through student complaints, not through official detection mechanisms, and questioned what action had been taken against such networks by both the Rajasthan and Central governments.

Highlighting the human cost, Pilot said nearly 22 lakh students appeared for the examination and that many have suffered severe psychological stress. He referred to a recent incident in Jhunjhunu, where a student from a poor Dalit family reportedly died by suicide, and alleged that several such cases were emerging while authorities remained insensitive. 'The National Testing Agency has effectively become a 'National Trauma Agency', yet accountability remains absent,' he remarked.

Foreign Policy and Agriculture

Commenting on the visit of the US Secretary of State to Jaipur, Pilot said India's foreign policy must remain balanced and rooted in equality. He argued that bilateral relations — with the United States, Russia, and China — should be conducted on equal terms, and that India's energy, fiscal, and foreign policies must operate independently. He also raised concern that recent policy directions could adversely affect farmers and the agricultural sector, calling agriculture 'the backbone of the country.'

Pending Local Body Elections

Pilot also raised the long-pending issue of civic body and Panchayat elections in Rajasthan, alleging that courts have repeatedly directed the government to conduct them. Elections for student unions, Panchayats, and municipalities remain pending despite judicial observations, he said, questioning the delay in these democratic exercises.

With the opposition agitation set to roll out across Rajasthan, the coming weeks will test whether the Congress can translate public grievance on inflation and NEET into sustained street-level pressure ahead of the next electoral cycle.