Silchar: District units of Congress and the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Thursday took part in a two-hour sit-in protest in Assam’s Sribhumi district over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination, demanding the resignation of the Union education minister and an impartial probe.The demonstration was held on Bridge Road near the district Congress office, Indira Bhavan, under the leadership of district Congress president Tapas Purkayastha. Congress and NSUI leaders, students and supporters took part in the protest, raising slogans over alleged paper leaks, examination irregularities and the Centre’s handling of the issue.Addressing the gathering, Purkayastha alleged that corruption and mismanagement in the education sector had increased under the BJP-led govt. He said alleged question paper leaks and lapses in conducting examinations had put the future of lakhs of students at stake.“The future of meritorious students is being jeopardised. The Union education minister should accept moral responsibility and resign immediately. Transparent and stringent measures are needed to restore public confidence in the examination system,” he said.Purkayastha alleged that despite repeated demands by Congress for action over the alleged irregularities, the Centre had failed to take effective steps. He said the party would continue its democratic agitation until a fair and impartial investigation was conducted and accountability fixed.District Congress media department chairperson Shahadat Ahmed Choudhury alleged that repeated controversies surrounding national-level examinations, including NEET, had eroded public confidence in the country’s education system. He demanded an impartial inquiry, identification of those responsible, technology-driven security measures, greater accountability and a transparent annual calendar for examinations and govt recruitment.Other speakers said students’ futures could not be compromised and called for a corruption-free and transparent examination system.The organisers said the agitation would continue at the district, state and national levels until their demands were met.
Congress and NSUI supporters at the two-hour sit-in protest in Assam’s Sribhumi district
