PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Congress on Thursday launched its nationwide ‘Students Voice’ campaign and demanded the resignation of Union Education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged failures in the examination system.
Addressing the media here on Thursday, Rajya Sabha MP Ranjeet Ranjan said that the 40-day campaign will be held across 28 cities and aims to raise issues concerning students and job aspirants affected by paper leaks, examination cancellations, delayed results and recruitment processes.
Referring to the NEET-UG 2026 controversy, she said that repeated paper leaks and irregularities have eroded students’ faith in the system. She claimed that more than 89 paper leaks and examination scam cases have surfaced in recent years and questioned the accountability of those responsible. Ranjan also claimed that over 20 students died by suicide following the NEET-UG 2026 controversy including Dehradun’s Riya Thapa. She said that such incidents reflect the growing stress and uncertainty faced by students. The MP said that Pradhan should take moral responsibility for the crisis and resign. She also questioned the Centre’s handling of the issue and alleged that paper leaks, recruitment scams, vacant posts and examination delays have weakened young people’s trust in public institutions.
“The CBI’s arrest of the alleged source and main accused in the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak case points towards serious flaws within the examination system. About 6.5 crore candidates have been affected by 89 paper leak cases over the last decade,” she said.
Congress has put forward three key demands, including Pradhan’s resignation and an impartial probe into alleged links between paper leak networks and officials, a comprehensive overhaul of the examination system and implementation of a fixed annual examination and recruitment calendar. Pamphlet distribution drives, student outreach programmes and street-corner meetings will begin from June 30 followed by collectorate demonstrations in 28 cities on August 1. The first phase of the campaign will conclude with a “Delhi Chalo” programme on August 9, she added. Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh and other party leaders were also present on the occasion.
