New Delhi: A fresh political controversy erupted on Friday after Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the ongoing investigation into the NEET-UG paper leak case.
The Congress leader’s comment came shortly after the Supreme Court was informed that the Prime Minister was personally monitoring issues related to the cancellation of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) following the paper leak controversy.
During a hearing on the matter, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the apex court that Prime Minister Modi was closely overseeing the developments related to the investigation. The submission was made after the court sought details from the Centre regarding the process being followed in the probe and the basis on which conclusions would be drawn.
Reacting to reports of the government’s submission, Rahul Gandhi posted a sharp remark on social media, saying that if the Prime Minister was personally supervising the investigation, he had also “personally supervised” the paper leak. The statement quickly triggered strong reactions from leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The controversy stems from the cancellation of NEET-UG by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on May 12. The examination, held on May 3 for admission to undergraduate medical courses, was scrapped after allegations of a paper leak surfaced. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently probing the matter.
The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of making irresponsible and politically motivated remarks on an issue affecting lakhs of students and their families.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat criticised the Congress leader, saying such comments reflected a lack of seriousness while dealing with matters concerning the country’s youth. He argued that a Leader of Opposition should focus on facts rather than making allegations aimed at generating political attention.
According to Shekhawat, statements of this nature risk undermining public confidence and diverting attention from the concerns of students who have been affected by the examination controversy.
BJP IT Department chief Amit Malviya also attacked Gandhi’s remarks, describing them as unreasonable and baseless. He said linking the Prime Minister to the paper leak was an attempt to sensationalise a serious issue and claimed that such statements weaken constructive political discourse.
Malviya further alleged that instead of contributing to solutions for students, the Congress leader had once again chosen political confrontation over responsible engagement.
Joining the criticism, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Rahul Gandhi of misrepresenting the government’s position. He argued that the Prime Minister’s supervision related to the handling of issues arising from the leak and the subsequent investigation, not the leak itself.
The exchange marks the latest round of confrontation between the Congress and the BJP over the NEET controversy. In recent weeks, Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly targeted the Centre over the examination scandal and concerns surrounding the CBSE’s On-Screen Marking (OSM) system. The Congress has demanded accountability from the government, including Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The NEET paper leak issue has emerged as a major political flashpoint, with opposition parties accusing the Centre of failing to safeguard the integrity of one of India’s most important entrance examinations, while the government has maintained that strict action is being taken against those responsible.
As the investigation continues, the matter remains under judicial scrutiny, with the Supreme Court closely monitoring developments in the case.