Mayawati urges education reforms amid NEET row, says politics should not overshadow real issue

Lucknow: As the Centre and the opposition continued to clash over the alleged NEET paper leak and the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) protest, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati on Saturday called for comprehensive reforms in the education system, saying the political confrontation should not eclipse the core issue.

In a post on X, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said the protesters' demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation had become the focal point of the political battle, while the need to overhaul the examination system risked being sidelined.

"Although the peaceful sit-in at Jantar Mantar has received widespread public sympathy, both the opposition and the government are engaged in intense politics over the protesters' adamant demand for the resignation of the Union education minister. The real issue of necessary, comprehensive reforms in the education system should not disappear," she wrote.

Mayawati alleged that opposition parties were seeking to derive political mileage from the controversy "from the streets to Parliament", escalating tensions between the government and the opposition.

She warned that the confrontation could spread to the states in different forms and advised BSP workers to remain "alert and vigilant".

The BSP chief also criticised the growing politicisation of the issue, claiming that police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar had further fuelled tensions.

Referring to the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Mayawati said the atmosphere of confrontation had prevented the House from functioning effectively.

"Because of this atmosphere of tension and confrontation, the current Monsoon session has not functioned properly even for a single day so far, effectively halting the government's accountability on many other important issues concerning the country and public interest," she said.

She further argued that the government's approach appeared to focus on punitive measures after examination paper leaks had occurred rather than preventing them in the first place.

"The measures being explored by the government to deal with the CJP movement reflect strict action after paper leaks caused by corruption and incompetence. However, appropriate steps to prevent such heinous crimes from occurring in the first place are not visible, leading to growing public dissatisfaction," she said.

Appealing to BSP workers, Mayawati urged them not to become "aggressive or disheartened" amid the prevailing political situation and instead remain committed to the party's mission "with full dedication and commitment of body, mind and resources".

(PTI)