Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has backed Rahul Gandhi over the NEET controversy, calling the deaths of students linked to the paper leak issue “murders committed by the system”.
New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Saturday strongly supported Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on the NEET-UG paper leak controversy, alleging that repeated failures in the examination system were pushing students into extreme mental distress.
Speaking about the recent deaths of NEET aspirants, Chaturvedi said the incidents should not be viewed merely as suicides but as “murders committed by the system”.
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‘Students forced into unbearable stress’
Chaturvedi said lakhs of students spend years preparing for competitive medical entrance examinations, only to see their efforts collapse because of alleged paper leaks and irregularities. According to her, students face immense emotional pressure after learning that exams they worked hard for were compromised due to failures in maintaining a secure examination system.
She argued that such situations deeply affect aspirants who often invest years of preparation and emotional energy into clearing NEET.
Questions raised over accountability
The Shiv Sena (UBT) MP also alleged the existence of a wider “corrupt nexus” involving paper setters, officials and others linked to repeated examination leaks. She questioned why accountability had not been fixed despite several controversies surrounding national-level examinations in recent years.
Referring to the arrest of a lecturer connected to the NEET case, Chaturvedi said the incident reflected larger structural corruption within the education system.
Chaturvedi demanded major reforms in the examination process and called for stronger preventive mechanisms to stop future leaks rather than only punishing people after controversies emerge. She claimed that repeated paper leak incidents over the years show the urgent need for systemic changes and stricter accountability at higher levels.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on NEET row
The controversy intensified after Rahul Gandhi described the death of NEET aspirant Ritik Mishra as a “murder by the system”. The 21-year-old student from Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri allegedly died by suicide after the NEET-UG examination was cancelled amid paper leak allegations.
Family members reportedly said the student was deeply distressed despite being confident about clearing the examination on his third attempt. The NEET controversy has once again triggered nationwide debate over student mental health, examination integrity and accountability within India’s competitive exam system.
Published: 17 May 2026, 11:11 am IST
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