Bhubaneswar, May 12 (IANS) Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday strongly condemned the Union Government over the NEET-UG -2026 paper leak incident, calling it an “organised crime” within the education system and demanding strict action against those involved.​

Referring to concerns earlier raised by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Das said lakhs of students had spent sleepless nights preparing for the examination, while paper-leak rackets were benefiting from corruption and the government’s negligence.​

“Children studied day and night with hopes for their future, but their aspirations were shattered due to the paper leak. This is not just negligence; it is an organised crime in the education sector,” he said.​

It is alleged that corrupt elements involved in leaking examination papers were earning huge sums of money, and claimed that several paper-leak incidents had occurred in the country over the past decade.

He said nearly 22 to 23 lakh student had appeared for the NEET examination this year, and their future had been put at risk.​

“This is a serious crime, and immediate action should be taken. The guilty must be given the strictest punishment,” he added.​

The Congress leader further stated that any re-examination would increase the financial burden on the government, the public, and the country, while also creating uncertainty in students’ lives. ​

He accused the authorities of failing in their fundamental responsibilities and said those at the helm of affairs must take the moral responsibility for this lapse.​

Meanwhile, during a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, the Congress leaders alleged that student organisations across the country are protesting over the paper leak incident and, in the process, are hurling abuses at Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, which has become a matter of shame for all people from Odisha. ​

The party also demanded Pradhan’s immediate resignation to protect Odisha’s self-respect and pave the way for a fair and impartial investigation.

–IANS

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