CJP protest: Row over Nirmala Sitharaman’s ‘brazenly insensitive’ remarks on NEET paper leak. What did she say exactly?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman drew backlash from the Opposition for saying that young people, who first said they were hurt by the NEET paper leak
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman drew backlash from the Opposition for saying that young people, who first said they were hurt by the NEET paper leak, later took “advantage” of the re-exam and prepared to improve their performance in the exam. “How brazenly insensitive are you?,” Congress leader Supriya Shrinate asked while sharing a video of Sitharaman’s statement on social media. Shrinate posted in Hindi, which roughly translates to: “Finance Minister Nirmala ji is listing the benefits of the paper leak.” Quick answers to key questions • 5 QUESTIONS 1 What did Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman say about the NEET paper leak? ⌵ Nirmala Sitharaman stated that despite being hurt by the NEET paper leak, some students later took advantage of the re-exam to improve their performance, which sparked backlash from the opposition. 2 Why did Nirmala Sitharaman's remarks on the NEET paper leak receive criticism? ⌵ Her comments were criticized for being insensitively suggestive that students benefited from the paper leak, particularly in light of tragic incidents where students reportedly took their own lives after the leak. 3 How is the government addressing the issue of paper leaks in public examinations? ⌵ The government is proposing an amendment to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, which includes stringent measures like fast-track trials and harsher penalties for those involved in paper leaks. 4 What are protesters demanding regarding the NEET paper leak incident? ⌵ Protesters are demanding accountability from the government for the paper leak incident, calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and reforms in the education system. 5 Should students participate in protests related to the NEET paper leak?
⌵ Participation in protests at Jantar Mantar has been cautioned against by universities like DU and JNU, urging students to prioritize safety and refrain from unauthorized assemblies. “Come on, Madam, while you're at it, please list the benefits for those 22 children who took their own lives,” she said, adding, “There's a limit - How brazenly insensitive are you?” Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also took a dig over Sitharaman saying, “Modiji ke mandli me ek se ek heere hai.” “The Finance Minister is saying that the paper leaks benefited the children because they got more time. Madam, now I understand why 152 paper leaks happened. You were giving time to the children. The meaning is clear - the same will happen in the future too,” Surjewala said. Referring to remarks attributed to Nirmala Sitharaman on paper leaks, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal also said such statements amounted to an admission that future leaks could occur. "A cabinet minister [Sitharaman] is saying, 'Paper leakage will help students.' What does that mean? You are taking complete responsibility for the paper leaks. This is what the students of India are believing today," he was quoted by ANI as saying. Ashutosh Ranka, a spokesperson of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which is leading the students’ protest over paper leaks, also commented on Sithraman’s remark. “By this logic every paper in this country should get leaked,” he said. What did Nirmala Sitharaman say on NEET paper leak Commenting on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government had come forward and was taking action in the matter.
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