"Expected all parties to speak by rising above politics...", PM Modi in Rajya Sabha on NET-UG row

New Delhi [India], July 3 (ANI): Amid the ongoing row over the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET)-UG exams, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that his government would not spare those involved in the alleged paper leak in the undergraduate medical entrance examinations.
The Prime Minister said that had expected all parties but to speak on the isse in Parliament by "rising above politics" but it was unfortunate that such a sensitive issue was sacrificed to "politics".
"The President in her address mentioned paper leak. I had expected all parties to speak by rising above party politics. But, unfortunately, they sacrificed even such a sensitive and important issue, an issue related to the future of the youth to politics. What can be a bigger misfortune than this?" said PM Modi.
The Prime Minister was replying to the debate on 'motion of thanks' on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha.
He further assured the youth that the government would not spare those involved in the irregularities in the NEET-UG exams.
"I assure the youth of the country that this government is not going to spare those who cheated them. One action after the other is being taken to ensure that those who toyed with the future of the youth of my country get the strictest punishment. In Parliament, we have formed strict laws against these irregularities. We are strengthening the entire system so that the youth of my country do not have to be in a situation of apprehension in future and that they confidently showcase their capability and get what is rightfully theirs..." he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party government is under fire from the Opposition on allegations of paper leaks pertaining to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
On Monday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi referred to the medical entrance exam as a "commercial exam" and said that students appearing for NEET alleged that the exam is designed for "rich students and not meritorious students."
Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President for her address to a joint sitting of Parliament, Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP-led government over the paper leak issue and said that there is fear among everyone in the nation.
"NEET students spend years and years preparing for their exams. Their family supports them financially, and emotionally and the truth is that NEET students today do not believe in the exam because they are convinced that the exam is designed for rich people, not meritorious people. I have met several NEET students. Every single one of them tells me that the exam is designed to create a quota for rich people and to create a passage for them into the system and is designed not to help poor students. The students prepare for months and months," Rahul Gandhi said.
"There is fear among, youth, farmers, women and the disabled. In fact not in the whole country there is fear among their own (BJP) party. This is truth and that's why you guys are not shouting now," he said.
The NEET UG examination was conducted by the National Testing Agency on May 5 at 4,750 centres in 571 cities in the country and 14 cities abroad with 23 lakh candidates appearing for the examination.
The results were declared on June 4, which immediately caused a hue and cry with aspirants raising multiple issues. An unprecedented 67 candidates achieved a perfect score of 720 marks out of 720 led to widespread protests in the country.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on June 23 registered a criminal case over the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the NEET-UG and UGC-NET exams by the NTA and formed special teams to probe the matter. (ANI)