New Delhi, May 17 -- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday slammed Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for "failing" students across age groups amid the NEET-UG paper leak row and CBSE evaluation concerns, and sought an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for "destroying" the future of lakhs of children.

The leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also attacked Pradhan over the rollout of the CBSE's three-language policy in schools.

Questioning the "silence" of Prime Minister Modi on these issues, Gandhi asked him why he was not sacking Pradhan despite repeated paper leaks during his tenure.

"First the NEET paper leak affected 22 lakh students. Then CBSE Class 12 students received unexpectedly low marks from a broken OSM system - many losing their college eligibility.

"Now lakhs of CBSE Class 9 students suddenly asked to learn a new language from July 1, with no teachers, no textbooks, and Class 6 books being handed to 14-year-olds as a 'transitional' fix," he said in a post on X.

Gandhi alleged that Pradhan has "failed" every single age group of students.

"Three exams. Three age groups. One Minister. Dharmendra Pradhan ji has not failed once. He has failed every single age group of India's students at once.

"Every announcement plunges children deeper into uncertainty. Every failure goes unpunished. The Education Ministry has become a department of disasters," Gandhi said.

"Prime Minister Modi ji - can you at least apologise to the lakhs of children whose futures you and your Minister have destroyed?" the former Congress chief asked, using the hashtag '#SackPradhan'.

In another post earlier, Gandhi said, "NEET 2024: Paper leaked. Exam not cancelled. Minister did not resign. CBI set up an investigation. A committee was formed."

The National Testing Agency cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Exam (Undergraduate) held on May 3 amid allegations of irregularities. The re-exam has been scheduled for June 21.

"Mr Modi, the country is asking you some questions - answer them! Why are paper leaks happening repeatedly? Why are you silent time and again on this 'Pariksha pe Charcha'? Why aren't you dismissing the education minister who keeps failing repeatedly?" The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha asked, using the hashtag "#SackPradhan".

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.