As Prime Minister Narendra Modi gears up for his historic third term swearing-in ceremony on June 9, the Congress-led INDIA bloc has intensified its opposition, spotlighting two critical issues: alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2024 results and a purported stock market scam linked to “fake exit polls” during the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has leveled serious allegations against the government, claiming that retail investors suffered losses amounting to lakhs of crores due to manipulated exit polls. Gandhi has demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into what he terms as the “biggest stock market scam.” The accusation comes in the wake of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s decisive victory in the 18th Lok Sabha elections, where they secured 293 seats, comfortably surpassing the halfway mark.
Simultaneously, the Congress has raised concerns over the integrity of the NEET UG 2024 exam, a crucial gateway for aspiring medical students. Party President Mallikarjun Kharge took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his concerns. “Paper leaks, rigging, and corruption have become an integral part of many examinations, including NEET. The Modi government is directly responsible for this,” Kharge stated in Hindi. He further accused the BJP of cheating the youth, stating, “For the candidates appearing in recruitment exams, then facing several irregularities, getting caught in the labyrinth of paper leaks, is playing with their futures.”
The NEET controversy gained further traction when Alakh Pandey, CEO of the popular educational platform Physics Wallah, announced his intention to approach the Supreme Court. In a video posted on X, Pandey expressed his deep concerns about the reported irregularities in the NEET UG results. “After the result of NEET, lakhs of children are worried that why such strange things are happening in the result this time. We have asked NTA for a lot of answers, but we are not getting a lot of answers,” Pandey stated, as reported by moneycontrol.com.
This dual-pronged attack by the Congress comes at a crucial juncture. With Modi set to be sworn in for an unprecedented third consecutive term, the opposition’s allegations attempt to cast a shadow over the celebrations. The swearing-in ceremony, to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, is expected to be a grand affair with over 8,000 guests, including foreign dignitaries from neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
The Congress’s strategy appears to be twofold: questioning the government’s governance and its commitment to the youth. By highlighting the NEET issue, they target a sensitive area for millions of Indian families who invest heavily in their children’s medical aspirations. The demand for a Supreme Court-supervised high-level probe into the NEET irregularities underscores the gravity of the allegations. On the economic front, Rahul Gandhi’s call for a JPC probe into the alleged stock market scam is significant. The accusation of “fake exit polls” influencing market behavior and causing substantial losses to retail investors strikes at the heart of the government’s economic management narrative. It also raises questions about the integrity of election-related information dissemination.
These allegations come as the Congress, having secured 99 seats in the Lok Sabha, is poised to claim the Leader of Opposition (LoP) role for the first time since 2014. The Congress Working Committee has unanimously nominated Rahul Gandhi for this position, signaling a more aggressive opposition stance in the upcoming parliamentary sessions. As security measures are heightened in New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony, with a multi-layered plan including paramilitary forces and a No-Fly Zone, the political atmosphere remains charged. The Congress’s allegations ensure that Modi’s third term begins amidst controversies, setting the stage for intense parliamentary debates and scrutiny. Meanwhile, the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA) has penned a letter to the Chairperson of the National Testing Agency (NTA), urging a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged NEET exam paper leak. The AIMSA emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to uphold the integrity and fairness of the examination process, expressing concern over the potential impact on the future of thousands of aspiring medical students.
As India prepares to witness a historic moment with Modi’s third term, the Congress’s allegations over NEET irregularities and stock market manipulations underscore the challenges that lie ahead. These issues not only question the government’s governance but also highlight the opposition’s resolve to hold the ruling party accountable. The coming weeks are likely to see heightened political activity as these allegations are debated in Parliament and possibly in the courts, marking a tumultuous start to Modi’s third innings at the helm of the world’s largest democracy.
