Faced with an all-out attack by the Opposition over the NEET row and questions on whether he has considered resigning, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan today said he is on the post “at the mercy of my leader” and that the government is “collectively answerable”.
Questioning the Centre’s response to alleged paper leaks in competitive exams, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said this government will create new records in paper leaks. “Students across the country are protesting. Investigation is leading to revelations, arrests are being made. I have only one request, students will not get justice if this minister continues,” he said.
In response, Mr Pradhan said the results have been made public as per the Supreme Court’s directions. “I don’t want to do politics, but I have a list of how many paper leaks happened when Akhilesh Yadav was in charge (as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister,” he said.
The most scathing attack from the Opposition benches came from Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. “It’s obvious to the whole country that there is a very serious problem in our examination system. The minister has blamed everybody except himself. I don’t even think he understands the fundamentals of what is going on here.”
