Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday targeted the Centre over the CBSE evaluation process row and the treatment of students who raised concerns, claiming they were being labelled as “Pakistanis.” The issue has drawn widespread attention after a student alleged that an answer sheet uploaded by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) under his roll number did not belong to him. The board later acknowledged that an incorrect Physics answer sheet had been uploaded under Vedant’s roll number and subsequently provided him with the correct answer book.In a post on X, Kharge said both CBSE students and NEET aspirants had become victims of what he described as the government’s failures in the education sector.“They set out to create ‘Exam Warriors’, but instead branded them as ‘Deep State Agents’ and ‘Pakistanis’. Whether it is 17-year-old CBSE candidates or NEET aspirants, the Modi government has trapped the nation’s youth in the web of its corruption, conspiring to dismantle the country’s education system,” said Kharge.The Congress chief also alleged that institutions that once played a key role in nurturing talent were now in decline under the BJP-led government.“There was a time when IITs, IIMs, Central Universities, and National Institutes used to build the nation’s talent. Now, due to the BJP’s plunder, we are unable to conduct even a single Board Examination properly. Such is the state of affairs they have brought us to,” said Kharge.He further accused the government of weakening educational institutions and suppressing student voices.“Look at any institution–They ruined the UGC; Unleashed politics of vendetta in JNU and Central Universities; Wiped out history from NCERT textbooks; Suppressed the voice of students in universities and crushed their movements; Ideologically hijacked the appointment of Vice Chancellors; Shut down more than 90,000 government schools; And slashed the education budget year after year,” said Kharge.The remarks came on a day when Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi met CBSE Class 12 students who were labelled “anti-national”, “Pakistani” and “Soros agents” on social media after raising concerns over incorrect answer sheets.Continuing his attack on the government, Kharge alleged that young people who raise their voices are routinely targeted and denied justice. He also renewed the Congress party‘s demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.“Whenever the youth takes to the streets, Whenever Gen Z raises its voice… Every single time, their voice has been suppressed, Baseless allegations have been hurled at them, And they have been thrown behind bars! The BJP did not provide jobs, They lined their own pockets through recruitment exams, And completely ruined the education system!!”“I am reiterating once again– Seek the resignation of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan… Only then, Modi, will the youth get real justice,” Kharge added.
