CJP protest: Controversy over Nirmala Sitharaman’s ‘blatantly insensitive’ remarks on NEET paper leak. What exactly did she say? | Today’s news

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman drew a backlash from the opposition for saying that youngsters who initially said they were hurt by the NEET paper leak later “took advantage” of the re-exams and prepared to improve their performance in the exam.

“How brazenly insensitive are you?” asked Congress president Supriya Shrinate, sharing a video of Sitharaman’s statement on social media.

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Shrinate posted in Hindi which translates to: “Finance Minister Nirmala ji states benefits of paper leak.”

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Nirmala Sitharaman said that despite being hurt by the NEET paper leak, some students later used the re-examination to improve their performance, sparking backlash from the opposition.

Her comments were criticized for insensitively suggesting that students benefited from the paper leak, especially in light of tragic incidents where students reportedly took their own lives after the leak.

The government is proposing an amendment to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Malpractice) Act 2024 that includes strict measures such as fast-track processes and tougher penalties for those involved in paper leaks.

Demanding accountability from the government for the paper leak incident, the protesters are calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and reforms in the education system.

Universities like DU and JNU warned against participating in the protests at Jantar Mantar and urged students to prioritize security and refrain from unauthorized gatherings.

“Come on ma’am, while you’re at it, please list the benefits for the 22 kids who took their own lives,” she said, adding, “There’s a limit – How shamelessly insensitive are you?”

Meanwhile, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also took a look at Sitharaman and said, “Modiji ke mandli me ek se ek heer hai.”

“Finance minister says paper leaks benefited children because they had more time. Madam, I now understand why there were 152 paper leaks. You gave time to children. The meaning is clear – the same will happen in future,” Surjewala said.

Referring to the remarks attributed to Nirmala Sitharaman on the paper leaks, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal also said that such statements amounted to an admission that there could be future leaks.

“Cabinet minister (Sitharaman) says, ‘Paper leak will help students’. What does that mean? You are taking full responsibility for paper leaks. This is what Indian students believe today,” ANI quoted him as saying.

Ashutosh Ranka, spokesperson of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which is leading the student protest against the paper leak, also commented on Sithraman’s remark. “With this logic every paper in this country should be leaked,” he said.

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What did Nirmala Sitharaman say about NEET paper leak?

Commenting on the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government has come forward and is taking action on the matter.

“When the government came forward to send ministers where they were not – with permission, without permission, right in the LKM (Lok Kalyan Marg), they were sitting and agitating – and the first condition was: We need a debate in the House.” The government readily agreed. Now to put more conditions, more riders on it and disrupt the House when the government is willing to have a full-fledged discussion… come and have a discussion,” Sitharaman said.

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On July 23, she said, “…the government is making sure that the arrests are made on time, that the re-examination is done on time and on time, publicize the incident, announce the results (they have been made) and the youth are now finding institutions where they have to go for higher education.

“All these things are happening and there are young people who come out and say yes: ‘At first it hurt a bit when the paper leaked, but later I took advantage of it and prepared even more and my performance improved and I did well.’ So there are people who have looked at it, even young people who have taken the challenge and faced it and come out with flying colours. So with all this, the government is responding, the prime minister is responding…,” said Nirmala Sitharaman.

The finance minister further alleged that the Congress was using students’ concerns as a tool for political disruption.

“Using NEET, using young minds, young students, the Congress party is doing what it is famous for: disrupting the House, no discussion in the House, because the truth will come out and the government’s steps will all have to come out in the discussion. So they have no reason to agitate any more. They don’t want that. And that’s why they are disrupting,” she added.

Sitharaman criticized the opposition for avoiding a fair debate and argued that a transparent debate would expose their political motives.

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“They don’t want a fair discussion because when the truth comes out, they are the ones who are politicizing a sensitive issue that affects the youth of the country,” the minister told ANI.

Appealing to the opposition to allow the House to function, the Union minister urged the Congress party to engage in meaningful dialogue rather than insulting the leadership.

“We will also now appeal to the opposition, especially the Congress party, to engage in a comprehensive debate, to discuss the issues here. If further steps are needed, the government will answer the questions here. But discuss. There is no point in shouting at the ministers who are willing to answer and the Speaker of the House who is willing to speak. The intention of the Congress party is only disruption, they do not want a solution,” she said.

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Thousands of students and other citizens took to the streets to protest the paper leak and demand education reforms. Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which started as an online satire, soon became a moment with several people supporting them and protesting against the NEET paper leak.

The protesters demanded that the government be held accountable for the paper leak incident that claimed the lives of several aspirants and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.