Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing concern over the alleged NEET question paper leak, examination irregularities, and the use of force against students protesting the issue.
In his letter, Parameshwara urged the Union government to roll back the National Eligibility‑cum‑Entrance Test (NEET) and restore state‑level Common Entrance Tests (CETs), besides seeking an impartial and time‑bound inquiry into the controversy.
“I write to you with profound concern, not merely as the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka or as the minister entrusted with the aspirations of millions of young Indians, but as a citizen deeply invested in the future of our democracy,” Parameshwara said.
He stated that the recent developments surrounding the alleged paper leak and examination irregularities had shaken the confidence of students and parents across the country.
“For lakhs of young people, examinations are not merely tests; they represent years of sacrifice, discipline, and hope. When the credibility of such examinations is questioned, it is not only an administrative failure but also a breach of trust between the State and its youth,” he wrote.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the nationwide protests reflected growing anguish among students and a demand for accountability and systemic reforms.
Parameshwara also criticised the alleged police action against protesting students, stating that images of lathi‑charge, tear gas, and forcible dispersal had caused widespread concern. He added that a democracy must never fear the voices of its young people, saying their questions deserve answers and engagement, not suppression.
He further alleged that the treatment meted out to Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi during a protest was troubling.
“The manhandling of Rahul Gandhi during a peaceful protest, resulting in injuries, sends a deeply troubling message not only to India’s citizens but also to democracies across the world,” the letter stated.
In his communication to the Prime Minister, Parameshwara urged the Centre to take measures including rolling back NEET and restoring transparent, merit‑based State CETs, ordering an impartial inquiry into the alleged irregularities, providing compensation to families of students who lost their lives or were injured during protests, fixing accountability for alleged police action, and initiating meaningful dialogue with students and educators to restore public trust in India’s examination system.
He maintained that the concerns raised by students must be addressed through dialogue and accountability rather than force.
“The questions raised by our youth deserve answers, not barricades; dialogue, not suppression,” he said.
--IANS
