New Delhi: Dr. Kanhaiya Kumar, Member of Congress Working Committee and NSUI in-charge, sharply criticised the central government’s handling of the education system during a press conference at the AICC headquarters on Thursday. He described the situation as a life-and-death crisis for India’s youth, linking repeated examination scandals directly to rising student suicides.
Kumar noted that two young people die by suicide every hour in the country, attributing this tragedy to a “dysfunctional education system.” He accused the government of appointing an “unfit” person as Education Minister and failing to ensure fair examinations. “The government may treat this as comedy, but for the nation’s future, it is a matter of survival,” he said.
The Congress leader highlighted the recurring nature of paper leaks. He pointed out that examination papers have been leaked more than 80 times. Recent incidents include the NEET controversy, where the exam was cancelled and rescheduled after leaks circulated on WhatsApp, forcing over 20 lakh students to appear again within a month. He also cited the SSC GD exam, where over 800 candidates were called to a centre with seating for only 250, and ongoing CBSE issues involving online screening and answer sheet discrepancies.
Kumar questioned how India can aspire to become ‘Vishwa Guru’ when the government cannot conduct even one clean examination. He criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for holding ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ sessions and making reels before exams, only to fall silent when leaks occur. “What compulsion prevents action against the Education Minister in your own cabinet?” he asked, demanding his immediate dismissal.
The NSUI chief slammed the National Testing Agency (NTA), saying its director has political connections and the agency has repeatedly failed. He suggested either stripping NTA of its examination responsibilities or granting it constitutional status to ensure accountability. He demanded zero-tolerance laws against paper leaks, strict action against culprits, and an end to political appointments in educational bodies.
Kumar made an emotional appeal to students and youth: “Do not blame yourself for systemic failures. If you must die, die fighting for your rights, not by suicide.” He urged them not to lose hope, stating that NSUI and Youth Congress are protesting on the streets and the opposition will raise the issue in Parliament.
The Congress, he said, stands with affected families and has launched a helpline for distressed students. The number 9260030030 has been issued for CBSE and NEET candidates facing issues with answer sheets or results. Assistance is already being provided to NEET aspirants’ families.
He warned that branding questioning students as “anti-national” or “Pakistani” damages democracy. True development, Kumar asserted, will come only through quality education and employment, not by suppressing youth voices while selling the dream of ‘Viksit Bharat’.
Kumar also touched upon broader concerns about eroding trust in institutions, including courts and election bodies, and criticised the promotion of officials despite failures. He reiterated that a government allegedly formed through “vote theft” naturally leads to such leaks and systemic collapse.
The Congress leader concluded that the fight against paper leaks is not just about education but about saving India’s democratic future and protecting its young generation.