We are the watchdog now: Congress to corner govt on NEET, says KC Venugopal
Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal on Saturday said the opposition would act as a “watchdog” and hold the Narendra Modi government accountable over the
Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal on Saturday said the opposition would act as a “watchdog” and hold the Narendra Modi government accountable over the NEET controversy, while also asserting that the party was prepared to deal with any future move on delimitation. Speaking during a protest against the NEET examination system, Venugopal said Congress would continue to press for accountability over alleged irregularities in the entrance test and the handling of student protests. Read Full Story “We are the watchdog now,” he said, adding that the opposition would not allow the government to evade questions inside Parliament. Targeting former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Venugopal said Congress had consistently demanded his resignation over the NEET row. “Congress is very clear about it. Whatever our leader Rahul Gandhi has demanded, some of it has already been done.
The first demand was the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan because he became the symbol of the entire CBSE-NEET episode,” Venugopal said. He alleged that the examination system had severely affected students and questioned the government's handling of the issue. “How many students died by suicide? This type of examination system has ruined the future of youth and students,” he said. The Congress leader also referred to a letter written by Rahul Gandhi to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking answers over alleged police action against protesting students. “Our leader wrote a letter today to the Home Minister asking who gave pellet guns to the police to attack students and who gave permission to beat students brutally. These are the questions Amit Shah will have to answer tomorrow,” Venugopal said.
“We will not allow Amit Shah to proceed in Parliament without answering these questions,” he added. CONGRESS TO DECIDE STAND ON BILL RELATED TO NEET ISSUE Venugopal said Parliament would take up a Bill related to the NEET issue and the opposition would discuss its strategy before taking a position. “Tomorrow they are bringing a Bill not on delimitation but on the CBSE-NEET issue. We are going to meet tomorrow morning and will take a call on the Bill,” he said. The Congress leader maintained that the government had been forced to respond because of pressure from students and youth across the country. “The country has given a clear warning to Narendra Modi. The youth and students of the country have given a clear warning and that is why they surrendered,” he said.
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