New Delhi, May 12 -- Opposition leaders on Tuesday attacked the government after the cancellation of the NEET-UG examination, alleging administrative failure and insensitivity toward students, and also slammed the "repeated lapses" in the conduct of national-level competitive examinations.
Several Opposition leaders took to X questioning the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and demanding accountability over the recurring controversies surrounding entrance tests.
The NTA on Tuesday cancelled the NEET (UG) 2026 exam held on May 3 amid allegations of paper leak, with the government asking the CBI to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the "irregularities".
The examination for students seeking admission to undergraduate courses in medical colleges will now be held afresh on dates to be notified separately.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted the government over the cancellation, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's so-called 'amrit kaal' has turned into a 'vish kaal' (poison-filled era) for the country.
He said the hard work, sacrifices, and dreams of more than 22 lakh students have been "crushed by this corrupt BJP regime".
"This is not just a failure-it's a crime against the future of the youth," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said affected students will have to resort to mass protests as the government only understands the language of agitation. At a press conference, he alleged "political patronage" in paper leaks, saying the NEET question paper was leaked four times in the past nine years and none of the accused were punished.
He said that paper leaks did not happen out of nowhere, as he alleged complicity of higher ups, and accused the government of toying with the future of lakhs of students.
Rashtriya Janata Dal Rajya Sabha member Manoj Jha also lashed out at the NTA, posting on X, "Do anything but first dismantle NTA, NEET."
Talking to the news agency, Jha said the agency was "incapable" and recalled that he had earlier raised the issue in Parliament.
"I had said in Parliament, throw it in the Bay of Bengal. Have you ever thought about the impact on students coming from ordinary backgrounds? The CBI probe is an eyewash. This is extremely insensitive," he said.
"Democracy is not just fighting and winning elections. How sensitive are you towards the people," Jha asked.
CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Brittas said repeated failures in national examinations were eroding public trust in the system.
RJD spokesperson Priyanka Bharti linked the latest controversy to earlier allegations of paper leaks connected to Bihar.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.