Chikkamagaluru: For Ayush, NEET was more than just an entrance exam — it was a stepping stone towards his dream of becoming a doctor and serving patients. However, he said the alleged question paper leak shattered that dream and urged the Union govt to ensure greater transparency in examinations.Ayush, who scored 581 out of 720 marks and emerged as the district topper, said he was unable to secure a medical seat because of flaws in the system.He was speaking at ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’, a student outreach and dialogue programme organised by the Congress and its student wing, NSUI, in Chikkamagaluru on Friday.Alleging irregularities in the NEET examination, Ayush claimed that thousands of students scored above 700 marks. “Even scoring 650 was of little use. The re-examination caused immense stress and placed an unnecessary burden on aspirants,” he said.“At the end of the day, students expect fairness. We need transparency in examinations,” he said, adding that the issue lay with the system rather than individuals.“We should not hate the system; we should fix it. Transparency will bring positive change and help build a stronger nation,” he said.. And questioned if it is possible to visit a doctor who passed by making mistakes.Another student, Aisha, questioned who would be held accountable for the alleged irregularities and the impact on students’ futures.Another student, Aisha, questioned who would be held accountable for the alleged irregularities and the impact on students’ futures.Responding to the concerns, former minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said efforts were under way to address the issue. “We need transparency, accountability and a robust examination system. Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, have been raising awareness about these concerns,” he said.He claimed the govt had a responsibility to rectify shortcomings in the system and alleged that many medical aspirants were suffering from anxiety and depression due to uncertainty surrounding the exam process.Another student questioned why several protesters had been injured during demonstrations in New Delhi while elected representatives remained on the sidelines. “Our representatives should protect us and raise our concerns because we cannot directly approach ministers,” she said.Hundreds of students from colleges across Chikkamagaluru participated in the programme.Congress leader Anjali Nimbalkar, district Congress president K P Amshumath, MLA H D Thammaiah and others were present.
