<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"><b>GANGTOK,:</b> The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) on Tuesday criticised the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government, alleging failures in the
education sector, misleading statements on national security matters and
irregularities in the management of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Addressing a
press conference at the SPCC headquarters in 6th Mile, Tadong, SPCC president
Gopal Chettri said the country was witnessing a series of incidents that had
shaken public confidence in the government and demanded accountability on
several issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Speaking on the
alleged irregularities surrounding the NEET examination, Chettri described the
examination as "one of the biggest scams" affecting students across
the country.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">He said lakhs
of students had worked tirelessly with the dream of becoming doctors while
their parents had made enormous financial sacrifices to support them.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">"Parents
sold land, mortgaged their houses, exhausted their savings and even took loans
from banks and private lenders to help their children prepare for the
examination. Many families spent heavily on travel and accommodation to reach
examination centres. Their hopes have been shattered because of the
government's failure to conduct the examination fairly," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Chettri alleged
that the paper leak and subsequent cancellation of the examination had left
around 2.2 million students frustrated and uncertain about their future.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">"The
education system has played with the emotions of students. Even while
rescheduling the examination, there was gross negligence. One student was
reportedly allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi. Such incidents expose
the complete collapse of the system," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Claiming that
question papers were allegedly sold for as much as Rs 30 lakh, Chettri
questioned how such a large-scale scam could occur under a government that
frequently speaks of strong governance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">"Students
are the future of this country. If the education system itself becomes corrupt
and unreliable, the nation's future is in danger. The government must explain
under whose protection such scams are taking place," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Quoting figures
released by the Congress party's Analysis Wing, Chettri claimed that families
collectively spend around Rs 1.32 lakh crore on a single NEET examination. He
added that when expenses related to examinations such as NEET, UPSC, JEE, RRB
and SSC are combined, the total reaches nearly Rs 3.5 lakh crore.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">He demanded the
immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the
alleged irregularities and accused government ministers of denying the
existence of paper leaks despite widespread allegations.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">"The
government cannot simply dismiss everything as rumours. The students of this
country deserve transparency, justice and accountability," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Referring to
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent address during the 'Chhatron Ki Goonj'
programme in Kota, Rajasthan, Chettri said the Congress would continue raising
the concerns of students and their families across the country.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">The SPCC
president also criticised the Union government over Operation Sindoor, alleging
that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had misled Parliament by stating that there
were no military casualties during the operation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">"It is
deeply unfortunate if the country's Defence Minister gives incorrect
information in Parliament. Reports indicate that six soldiers lost their lives,
and their names were later inscribed at the National War Memorial. The
government must explain why the truth was not disclosed earlier," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Chettri further
referred to reported thefts and financial irregularities at the Ram Janmabhoomi
temple in Ayodhya, alleging that despite the temple's management and security
being under the control of the trust, reports had emerged of cash, silver
bricks and valuable ornaments going missing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">"If
reports of such large-scale thefts are true, the government and those
responsible for the temple's administration must answer how such incidents
occurred despite high security arrangements. Turning off CCTV cameras months
before the alleged theft raises serious questions that require an impartial
investigation," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">Concluding the
press conference, Chettri said the alleged education scam, the reported
concealment of military casualties and the alleged financial irregularities at
one of the country's most significant religious sites had exposed serious
governance failures.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif">"The scams
in the education sector, the insult to martyred soldiers and the financial
irregularities at a centre of faith have exposed the true face of the current
government. The government must provide clear and truthful answers to the
people on all these issues," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family:"Georgia",serif"> </span></p>
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