JEE, NEET row: Congress President Anil Kumar Chaudhary detained during protests

17:44 August 28

Today there is a crisis of corona throughout the country; There is an economic crisis. The Modi government is urging people to leave the house only when they need it; On the other hand, being forced to take NEET and JEE examinations: Randeep Singh Surjewala

17:26 August 28

When I analyzed the decision of the Central Government to conduct the JEE-NEET examinations, I found that in these times of crisis, conducting these exams is nothing but loss and risk: Gourav Vallabh

17:25 August 28

Leaders and workers of INC Rajasthan staged protests across various parts of the State to stand in solidarity with the students and their concerns.

17:21 August 28

Speaking up for the safety of our students, leaders and workers of INC Kerala urged the BJP Govt to step back from its decision to conduct exams during COVID-19 pandemic and listen to the voice of students. 

17:18 August 28

Protesting against the BJP Govt's decision to conduct NEET/JEE exams jeopardising the safety & health of our students, the leaders and workers of INC Odisha demanded that the Govt carefully assess local conditions and heed to students' concerns.

17:17 August 28

Leaders & workers of INC Haryana held protests across various parts of the State to ensure that the safety of the students is not compromised. They urged the Govt to listen to all stakeholders and arrive at a consensus.

17:14 August 28

Standing in solidarity with the students of India, Congress leaders and workers of Telangana urged the BJP Govt to prioritize the safety and security of the students while deciding upon the NEET/JEE exams.

17:12 August 28

Congress leaders and workers from Andhra Pradesh protested against the decision of the BJP Govt to conduct NEET/JEE exams and demanded that the Govt listen to the concerns and the anxieties of students.

17:03 August 28

Congress gen secy demands postponement of JEE, NEET

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Friday joined the protest by the party's student wing National Students' Union of India (NSUI) in Delhi against the Centre's decision to conduct JEE and NEET in September and demanded that the Centre postpone the examinations in view of COVID-19.

He said the government needs to consider the safety of the students before finalising the date of the examination.

The Congress general secretary told reports, "We are sharing the sentiments of the student community of India. We want the safety of students. In northern rural areas students have to travel long distances to reach the centre. Will the government ensure accessibility or safety?"

"The government needs to consider the matter before finalising the date. A responsible government should at least hear out the students and parents. The students don't want to lose a year. The government can fix a convenient date after 1-2 months with all safety measures and assign exam centres in each district to decrease the load," he added.

He said, "Students are mentally distressed due to the increasing coronavirus cases. Today, COVID-19 cases are around 76 lakh in the country, and every day thousands of cases are reported. Without safety, how will students find the mental peace to write the examination?"

He said this is an area of great concern which is why an online campaign is also being conducted to raise the issue. "It is a great area of concern which is why we are moving the SC for relief. We are also conducting an online campaign today and everyone is joining it. The government should understand the sentiments of the country and we will continue to put pressure."

15:02 August 28

Expressing solidarity with the students, Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi released a video message.

The Congress leader said that the students are the future of India, therefore, any decision regarding their future has to be taken with their concurrence.

15:01 August 28

Congress leaders and workers in Assam held a protest against the BJP Govt's decision to conduct NEET/JEE examinations amidst a pandemic.

14:28 August 28

BJP devoid of humanity for students, says Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday targeted the BJP over the holding of the JEE and NEET exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the party's attitude towards students is "devoid of humanity". This comes a day after Samajwadi Party (SP) workers staged a protest outside the Raj Bhawan here over the issue."

13:35 August 28

Speak up for students' safety, says Priyanka Gandhi

In the atmosphere of Corona's growing infection #JEE_NEET It is necessary to listen to the students and their parents who take the exam. These children are the future of the country. The concerns of students have to be viewed sensitively and not stubbornly and politically. #SpeakUpForStudentSafety" tweeted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi.

13:29 August 28

CRPF detain Congress President Anil Kumar Chaudhary during protests

Delhi Congress President Anil Kumar Chaudhary, along with various party workers, were detained by CRPF from Sashtri Bhavan amid the on-going protests for the postponement of JEE, NEET exams. Party workers raised slogans against the BJP government.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Chaudhary said, "BJP govt is conducting exams without students' consent. Will the govt take responsibility for any mishap?'

12:50 August 28

Govt must be fair to citizens while making decisions, says Congress

The Congress, on its official Twitter handle, said the government must be fair to all citizens when making decisions. "We urge the BJP government to consider the implications of holding the JEE & NEET exams right now. Listen to the students and then make a decision," the party said. It also posted videos of several senior Congress leaders voicing their opposition against the holding of the exams.

12:35 August 28

Non-BJP states file review petition in SC for exam postponement

Six states have filed a review petition against a previous order by Supreme Court. West Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh, Jharkhand and Punjab seek postponement of exams.

12:26 August 28

Centre must postpone JEE, NEET: Sachin Pilot

Congress leader Sachin Pilot said that Centre must postpone JEE, NEET exams and must arrive at a proper solution for its conduct.

He said," The life of lakhs of students cannot be put at risk. I support NSUI students' protest for opposing the govt's decision to postpone the exams amid pandemic. 

"If we keep raising the matter, Centre will have to consider the demands of people and postpone the examinations," Pilot added. 

12:13 August 28

NSUI students detained during protest in Ahmedabad

 Members of National Students' Union of India (NSUI) were detained by police in Ahmedabad during a protest against Centre's decision to conduct JEE & NEET examinations in September

12:12 August 28

NSUI students protest in Bengaluru

National Students' Union of India stages protest against holding of JEE, NEET examinations, at Race Course Road in Bengaluru.

12:11 August 28

Congress holds protest against conduct of exams in Chennai

Congress workers in Chennai hold protest against Centre's decision to hold NEET-JEE 2020 exams amid COVID19 pandemic

12:10 August 28

Congress holds protest against conduct of exams in Delhi

Congress held protest outside Shastri Bhawan against holding of the JEE & NEET examinations in September.

11:27 August 28

NSUI students on hunger strike in Delhi

NSUI students are sitting on a hunger strike to protest against the government's decision of conducting JEE, NEET exams amid pandemic. 

11:05 August 28

Unfair, dangerous to expose youth to such risk, says Shashi Tharoor

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has released a video expressing solidarity with National Students Union of India (NSUI) who are protesting the government's decision to conduct exams amid pandemic.  

"I stand with the solidarity with NSUI students who are on a hunger strike to oppose the government's decision to hold NEET, JEE exams during the pandemic. It is dangerous and unfair to expose our youth to such a risk. Postpone NEET, JEE exams," says Congress veteran Shashi Tharoor  

10:00 August 28

Jharkhand CM urges Centre to postpone JEE, NEET in view of pandemic

Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday urged Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank to consider postponing National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) in view of the coronavirus pandemic as the opposition to conducting the entrance exams continues.

09:58 August 28

Unite your voice with students, says Rahul Gandhi

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi asked the country to unite its voice with lakhs of suffering students. "Let’s make the Govt listen to the students," he tweeted.

08:18 August 28

Rajasthan Congress to protest for postponing JEE, NEET amid pandemic     

Amid growing concerns over holding JEE and NEET in the country, the Congress in Rajasthan will hold demonstrations on Friday in front of all central government offices in the state demanding postponement of the exams. The party has also decided to run a digital campaign called 'SpeakUpForStudentSafety' on social media.          

On Thursday, PCC president Govind Singh Dotasra said the students are pressing their demands for postponement of exams in view of the continuous spread of coronavirus in the country but the central government is adamant on its stand about conducting the exams.         

 The decision to hold the exams has put lakhs of students and their family members in trouble. The students are in panic and stress and the Centre should listen to them, Dotasra said. He said the Congress will hold demonstrations in front of all central government offices at district headquarters in the state on Friday at 11 am.          

In Jaipur, the demonstration will be held at MNIT gate on JLN Road which will be participated by Dotasra and other senior Congress leaders and workers.          He said social distancing norms will be followed during the protests.

08:08 August 28

Congress will today hold nationwide protests to oppose the government's decision to hold NEET, JEE exams during the pandemic. There has been a growing chorus for postponing the crucial exams as it will put life of 25 lakh students at risk.

New Delhi:The Congress will hold countrywide protests on Friday to oppose the government's decision to hold NEET, JEE exams during the pandemic. In a statement AICC general secretary, KC Venugopal said the move is in line with concerted opposition to this 'dictatorial move' of the government.

State units of the Congress will be holding protests on Friday at 11 am in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters, he said. In a statement, Venugopal said lakhs of students and parents from across the country are rightfully agitating and demanding postponement of the JEE-NEET exams, scheduled to be held in September.

He said the government's decision to hold these exams during the COVID-19 crisis has created huge concern among the students and parents. "Apart from the very obvious vulnerability to and risk of infection, the decision to hold the exams will undoubtedly make it increasingly difficult for students to appear for the exams due to the availability of limited transport and lodging during the pandemic.

"While holding exams during COVID-19 crisis has put the students in a state of extreme mental stress, the grim flood situation in states like Assam and Bihar will further put students from those states at a severe disadvantage," he said.

Venugopal said all these protest gatherings will take place following strict social distancing protocols issued by the respective health and civic authorities. He said the party has also decided to organise a massive nationwide online campaign,#SpeakUpForStudentSaftey on the same day from 10 am onwards, through videos and posts protesting this decision, on any of the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said health and safety of 25 lakh students are being jeopardised in the ensuing JEE, NEET exams as students are protesting across the country. He also wondered why the government was 'refusing to listen to their grievances, deliberate upon them and find a solution acceptable to all'.

Posing a set of questions, Surjewala asked who will "oversee that the guidelines and protocols do not remain an empty paper formality". He further asked what special arrangements have been made for students of flood-affected Bihar and Assam. There has been growing chorus for postponement of the NEET-JEE exams.

PTI