Rahul Gandhi claims 152 paper leaks in 10 years, says 7.5 crore students affected amidst row over NEET irregularities

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday alleged that India's education system has been systematically undermined by recurring examination paper leaks, claiming that around one paper has been leaked every month over the past decade, affecting nearly 7.5 crore students while resulting in "zero convictions."

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, the Congress leader said the repeated paper leaks were one of the key reasons behind student protests across the country, accusing the government of failing to safeguard the education system.

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"Approximately one paper is leaked every month. 7.5 crore students affected, 0 convictions in the last decade. A group of people is destroying our education system. This is the reason why our youngsters are protesting. The system is unaffordable, not just rigged," Gandhi said.

He further claimed that at least 152 paper leaks had taken place over the last decade, describing the figure as a conservative estimate.

"I think the students were running around outside. I'm not saying this rightly. It is the proof. It's a superficial proof because we don't actually know the exact number. But what we do know is that 152 paper leaks have taken place over the last decade," Gandhi said.

Questions government's handling of student protests

Gandhi also criticised the government's response to student demonstrations, questioning the use of security personnel against protesters.

"The question is why is this happening to our students. What exactly have our students done? They have security forces aiming weapons at them. What have they done wrong?" he said.

"They are protesting peacefully, they are asking for demands, they are asking for what this country owes them. They are simply asking that listen, as students of the country, we deserve an education system that is fair," he added.

The Congress leader said students across the country continue to face immense pressure because of repeated examination irregularities.

"Children have committed suicide. Our students go through unlimited stress and at the last minute they are told that the paper has leaked," Gandhi said.

He further asked, "What wrong have our students done to have security forces aiming weapons at them, beating them up, to be thrashed or to be humiliated?"

Also read: In 1997, Dharmendra Pradhan protested against paper leak outside Odisha Secretariat as a student leader and was beaten

'Zero convictions despite repeated leaks'

Highlighting what he described as the government's failure to act against those responsible, Gandhi alleged that despite repeated paper leak incidents, no one had been held accountable.

"So somebody is, or a group of people have destroyed our education system, India's most valuable asset, destroyed the life of our students, and what has been done? Zero convictions," he said.

Gandhi also referred to the Centre's education spending, arguing that taxpayers' money should translate into a fair and reliable education system.

"So please think, the Government of India, after collecting all the taxes, spends money on the future of their children. That money goes into something called the education budget. It is Rs 1.4 lakh crore," he said.

The Congress leader reiterated that students were not seeking special treatment but were demanding a transparent, affordable and fair education system, asserting that the recurring paper leaks had eroded confidence in examinations and added to the stress faced by millions of young aspirants.