Mayawati urges focus on education reform, not politics, over NEET paper leak row
Lucknow, July 25 (IANS) Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati has cautioned that the core issue of systemic reforms in the education sector should not be overshadowed by the growing political confrontation between the government and the opposition over the NEET-UG paper leak and other examination irregularities.
In a post on X on Saturday, Mayawati said that the peaceful protest being held at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar by members of the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’ (CJP), formed in response to NEET-UG and other examination paper leaks and the resulting student suicides, has received widespread public sympathy.
However, she expressed concern that the movement’s insistence on the resignation of the Union Education Minister as a matter of governmental accountability has intensified political sparring between the ruling party and the opposition, potentially diverting attention from the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in the education system.
She further noted that opposition parties, in particular, appear to be competing aggressively to capitalise on the issue, from street protests to parliamentary debates.
According to her, the escalating political tensions between the government and the opposition risk spilling over into the states and could take disruptive forms. She advised party workers to remain vigilant and cautious.
The BSP chief said that the issue has become heavily politicised and that police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar has further heightened tensions and made the situation more serious.
She pointed out that the ongoing confrontation has prevented the current Monsoon Session of Parliament from functioning smoothly even for a single day. Discussions are stalled on several other important matters of national and public interest.
Mayawati also criticised the government’s response to the CJP-led agitation, saying that the measures being explored largely reflect punitive action taken after paper leaks occur, often due to corruption and incompetence.
She argued that there appears to be a lack of effective preventive mechanisms to stop such serious crimes before they happen, a factor that is contributing to growing public dissatisfaction.
Calling upon her supporters to remain committed to the party’s mission despite the charged political atmosphere, she urged them not to become aggressive or disheartened, but instead to continue working with dedication and resolve.
–IANS
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