Bhubaneswar: Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly Naveen Patnaik on Sunday called for a comprehensive debate in Parliament on the NEET paper leak issue, urging the Central government to initiate meaningful dialogue with students who have been protesting over the alleged examination irregularities.
Patnaik said the controversy has shaken public confidence in India’s examination system and stressed that restoring trust in the education system should be treated as a national priority.
‘Trust in the education system has been broken’
In a statement, Patnaik said that for millions of young Indians, education remains the only path to a better future and that the country’s progress has been built on a transparent and credible examination system.
However, he said repeated incidents of question paper leaks have severely damaged that trust.
According to Patnaik, the impact extends beyond a single examination, as such incidents undermine the faith of deserving students who rely on merit and hard work to achieve their goals.
He also warned that compromising the integrity of competitive examinations ultimately weakens the country’s future by discouraging talented students.
Calls for debate in Parliament and education reforms
The BJD chief said the issue, which affects millions of students across the country, deserves priority discussion in Parliament.
He demanded a detailed debate leading to concrete reforms aimed at preventing future paper leaks, strengthening examination security, improving assessment systems and ensuring accountability for lapses.
Patnaik stressed that restoring transparency and credibility in the examination process is essential to rebuilding public confidence.
Urges Centre to hold dialogue with protesting students
Appealing to the Central government to keep politics aside, Patnaik urged it to engage in meaningful and open dialogue with students who have been peacefully protesting over the NEET paper leak issue.
He said the students should be given an opportunity to present their concerns, adding that a healthy democracy progresses through dialogue rather than silence.
Patnaik also expressed solidarity with the protesting students, stating that the Biju Janata Dal stands firmly with the country’s youth and supports efforts to protect the integrity of India’s education system.
The NEET paper leak controversy has triggered widespread concern among students and parents, with renewed calls for greater transparency, stricter examination safeguards and systemic reforms in the country’s competitive examination process.