Shiv Sena Hits Back at Centre After NEET Exam Cancelled Amid Leaks

Shiv Sena (UBT) didn’t hold back in condemning the central government’s handling of the NEET exam crisis, which ended in cancellation due to rampant paper leaks. Thursday’s ‘Saamana’ editorial branded the NDA regime’s approach to big exams as synonymous with ‘breaking news of leaks,’ underscoring repeated failures.

Over 22 lakh students’ dreams hung in balance as the NTA scrapped NEET following verified leak reports. The fallout? Renewed exams mean amplified anxiety and expenses for candidates already at their wits’ end. Critics within the party highlight the double standards: rigorous scrutiny on students’ attire and gadgets, yet zero safeguards for the question paper.

Black market buzz revealed papers changing hands for massive sums pre-exam. Enterprising agents targeted elite parents, peddling leaks cheaper than backdoor college admissions. Unmasked is a corrupt web of NTA staff, press operators, and coaching empires, funneling papers for 25-30 lakhs to engineer top ranks.

These institutes parlay leak-aided successes into marketing goldmines, drawing crowds for future batches. Digital trails on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram distributed the contraband widely. Investigations span Maharashtra (Nashik, Pune, Latur), Kerala, Haryana, Bihar, AP, Rajasthan, and J&K, with CBI arrests failing to quell doubts given prior leniency in 2017, 2021 leaks.

Why no paper swap despite week-old warnings? The Education Ministry must answer. NTA’s fee exemption rings hollow for rural aspirants facing prohibitive travel and lodging repeats, compounded by profound psychological distress.

As Shiv Sena (UBT) rallies for justice, the episode spotlights deeper rot in India’s examination system, urging reforms to restore faith in equitable opportunities.