NEET-UG 2026 cancellation sparks political row; BJP backs Centre, Congress claims system failure

New Delhi: The cancellation of the NEET-UG 2026 examination over the question paper leak has triggered sharp political reactions, with BJP leaders defending the Centre’s decision as being in students’ interest, while the Congress accused the government of presiding over a collapsing examination system.

Speaking to IANS, Bihar BJP President, Sanjay Saraogi, said the government had acted responsibly to protect students’ interests.

“In the interest of the students, the Government of India has taken this step. Arrests are continuously being made, and the CBI investigation is also underway. Whoever is found guilty will not be spared,” he said.

In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh Minister Narendra Kumar Kashyap said the government was taking strict action against paper leak cases and assured stronger safeguards in the future.

“The government is taking strict action in cases of paper leaks. Our Education Minister has taken this incident seriously, and in the future, the government will take strong measures against all such paper leak cases to ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Hyderabad, Telangana, BJP leader Boora Narsaiah Goud termed the incident unfortunate and apologised to students affected by the cancellation.

“Regarding the NEET paper leakage and cancellation, it is unfortunate, and to be frank and precise, I apologise to the lakhs of students who have prepared for years to appear for this exam. As Narendra Modi has already directed, instead of conducting a faulty exam, it has been cancelled, and there will not be any registration fee again,” he said.

He also urged students not to panic and continue their preparations for the re-examination.

“I hope all the students, without getting nervous, will be well-prepared for the exam. I wish all of them the very best,” Goud added.

On the other hand, Congress leader Ajay Kumar Lallu launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led government, alleging systemic collapse in the conduct of examinations.

“The leak of 70 examination papers in seven years is not merely unfortunate. Somewhere, the entire system of the country has collapsed. The BJP government is betraying students and pushing their future into darkness,” he said while reacting to the controversy.

The NEET-UG 2026 examination was cancelled following allegations of question paper leak and irregularities in the conduct of the exam.

Investigating agencies, including the CBI and state police units, are currently probing the matter, with multiple arrests already made in connection with the case.

IANS