Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) President Bhakta Charan Das on Tuesday strongly condemned the Union Government regarding the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.
He categorised the incident as an “organised crime” embedded within the national education system and called for rigorous legal action against the perpetrators.
Echoing the concerns previously voiced by senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Das highlighted the plight of lakhs of students who dedicated months of intensive preparation for the exam. He asserted that while students faced sleepless nights, corrupt paper-leak syndicates were thriving due to government negligence and administrative lapses.
“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.
The OPCC chief pointed to allegations that corrupt entities are generating massive illicit profits through these leaks, noting that such incidents have surfaced repeatedly across the country over the last decade.
He emphasized that the futures of approximately 22 to 23 lakh students who appeared for NEET this year have been placed in serious jeopardy.
“This is a serious crime, and immediate action should be taken. The guilty must be given the strictest punishment,” he added.
The Congress leader also noted that a potential re-examination would impose a significant financial strain on the government and the public, while further heightening the sense of uncertainty and distress among the student community.
He further accused the authorities of failing in their fundamental duties and insisted that those in leadership positions must accept moral responsibility for the widespread failure.
Meanwhile, at a press conference in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, Congress leaders observed that student organizations nationwide are intensifying protests.
They noted with concern that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has become a central target of public ire, which they described as a moment of shame for the people of Odisha. Consequently, the party demanded Pradhan’s immediate resignation to safeguard the state’s dignity and ensure a transparent, impartial probe into the matter.
