HYDERABAD: Demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on moral grounds over the NEET question paper leak, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy urged people to vote out Prime Minister Narendra Modi and elect Rahul Gandhi as the next PM.
Addressing a Congress dharna in Kodangal on Wednesday to protest the detention of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi, Revanth described the Centre’s treatment of the senior leaders as reprehensible, saying they were only supporting students protesting the NEET paper leak.
Stating that the leak had jeopardised the future of lakhs of students, Revanth said political parties across the spectrum had backed the students’ protest at Jantar Mantar. He alleged that BJP leaders in states ruled by the party were selling question papers and playing with students’ futures.
He questioned the Centre’s reluctance to remove Pradhan from the Union Cabinet.
Drawing a parallel with Telangana, Revanth alleged that irregularities in the Intermediate examination results in 2019, when the BRS was in power, led to the deaths of 27 students by suicide. He claimed that the contract had been awarded to private firm Globarena, which he described as a proxy company linked to BRS working president
KT Rama Rao, despite allegedly lacking the required experience and qualifications.
CM: Rahul too injured during police action
The chief minister further alleged that after the Congress came to power, Globarena rebranded itself as “Coempt Education” and secured work from the Centre with the support of BJP leaders in Delhi. He claimed that Rama Rao had facilitated the contract and alleged that the company later conducted the NEET examination and engaged in fraudulent practices.
Referring to the police action against the protesters, Revanth said the lathi charge was unwarranted. He alleged that several girl students, women and youth sustained head injuries and claimed that dozens of students had gone missing, raising questions over whether they had been detained or kidnapped. He also claimed that Rahul Gandhi was injured during the police action.
“Shedding blood for the country is nothing new for the Gandhi family. The Congress has a history of fighting against British colonial rule. Indira Gandhi’s family, through its sacrifices, has been a role model for the country. Rajiv Gandhi laid down his life for the country’s unity. Even when the Congress was in power at the Centre for 10 years, Sonia Gandhi neither sought the post of prime minister nor a ministerial position,” he said.
The chief minister also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not allowing a discussion on the NEET paper leak in Parliament.
Revanth asserted that the Congress would continue to stand with students and youth and was prepared to fight the BJP-led Union government over the issue.