New Delhi. Former Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has also jumped into the ongoing controversy over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) conducted for admission to medical colleges. Sibal on Sunday demanded an inquiry into the allegations of irregularities by officers appointed by the Supreme Court. He urged the government to hold in-depth discussions with all the states on the modalities of conducting the examination.
In an interview to PTI-Bhasha, Rajya Sabha member Sibal also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on this issue and said that if the examination system itself becomes corrupt in an examination, then ‘it is not right for the Prime Minister to remain silent.’ Sibal urged all political parties to raise this issue loudly in the upcoming Parliament session. He said that there is little hope of discussion on this because the government will not allow it citing that the matter is pending in the court.
Sibal was the Minister of Human Resource Development (now Department of Education) from 29 May 2009 to 29 October 2012. He said that ‘National Examination Agency (NTA) has actually done rigging and the corrupt practice of providing question papers in advance for exams like those conducted to become doctors has been exposed by media institutions.’ He said that ‘I am shocked by some incidents in Gujarat and these are a matter of concern for the nation. I think NTA should answer these serious questions.’
Sibal said that what is even more surprising and disappointing is that whenever something like this happens and there is corruption in the present government, the ‘blind devotees’ start blaming the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for it and this is most unfortunate because they do not gather complete information before making such statements.
FIRST PUBLISHED : June 16, 2024, 14:45 IST