Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Friday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking whether, while praising Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in his birthday message, he had even thought about the children who lost their lives after the alleged leak of the NEET-UG medical entrance examination paper. He also said that these children died, their families were devastated, and their futures were destroyed because of a broken system and a government that refuses to be held accountable.

 

Sharing a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wrote, “Every name on this list (of children who lost their lives) belongs to a child who had dreams, a family, and a future. But a broken system and a government that refuses to take responsibility destroyed everything. Remember these students—every single one of them!” He then asked, “When Prime Minister Modi praised Dharmendra Pradhan ji on his birthday, did he think about these children even for a moment?”

 

In his post, Rahul Gandhi also tagged a post by senior Congress leader Pawan Khera. Khera had shared a letter written in the voice of the children who allegedly lost their lives because of the NEET paper leak. The letter read: “Dear Dharmendra Uncle, Happy Birthday! Today you have turned 57. We could not even live to half your age.” Khera also shared a list of the names of 14 students who, according to the post, died by suicide after the NEET-UG paper leak.

 

It is worth noting that amid the ongoing controversy over the NEET paper leak and the continued reports of student suicides linked to it, Prime Minister Modi on Friday wished Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan a happy birthday and praised his commendable efforts in implementing the National Education Policy (NEP). Dharmendra Pradhan, the Member of Parliament from Odisha’s Sambalpur Lok Sabha constituency, turned 57 on Friday.