Congress to launch nationwide campaign from June 30 seeking Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over NEET leak row

New Delhi: The Congress party has said it will launch a nationwide campaign from June 30 demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the controversy surrounding the alleged NEET paper leak and irregularities in competitive examinations.

The opposition party announced that the campaign will include demonstrations, public meetings and outreach programmes across states to highlight concerns regarding the conduct of national-level entrance examinations. Congress leaders have accused the central government of failing to ensure transparency and accountability in the examination process.

The move comes amid continuing political debate over the handling of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), one of India's largest entrance examinations for undergraduate medical admissions. The examination has been at the centre of controversy following allegations of paper leaks, malpractice and irregularities that prompted investigations and legal scrutiny.

Congress leaders have argued that the controversy has undermined the confidence of students and parents in the examination system. The party has maintained that accountability must be fixed and has repeatedly called for Pradhan to step down from his position.

According to party officials, the campaign will seek to mobilise students, youth organisations and local party units across the country. Congress plans to use the programme to raise questions about examination security, recruitment tests and alleged lapses in educational administration.

The ruling government, however, has rejected opposition allegations and defended its response to the controversy. The Centre has maintained that agencies are investigating all complaints and that measures have been taken to strengthen safeguards against examination malpractice.

The NEET issue has emerged as a major political flashpoint, with opposition parties alleging systemic failures while the government argues that isolated incidents should not overshadow the efforts of millions of candidates who appeared for the examination fairly.

The controversy has also led to extensive court proceedings, investigations by law-enforcement agencies and discussions about reforms to examination systems. Education experts have called for stronger security protocols, technological safeguards and greater transparency in the conduct of high-stakes tests.

Congress leaders say the June 30 campaign will continue until their demands are addressed. The party is expected to hold protests at district and state levels while engaging with students and educational stakeholders on issues related to examination integrity.

Political observers note that the campaign is likely to keep the NEET controversy in the national spotlight, particularly as concerns about educational opportunities and competitive examinations remain significant issues for young voters and their families.

As the political battle intensifies, attention is expected to remain focused on the government's handling of the issue, the progress of ongoing investigations and the broader debate over reforms needed to protect the credibility of India's examination system.