BJP targets Rahul over Kota event ahead of NEET-UG re-test

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) attacked Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his event in Rajasthan’s Kota, where he is expected to address a large gathering of students, with just three days remaining before the re-conduct of the NEET-UG examination.

Addressing a press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Mr. Gandhi of attempting to distract students and subject them to unnecessary mental pressure during the final phase of the examination “just to exploit a sensitive issue for political gain”.

“Why do you want to organise such an event, create stress, and anxiety in the students’ minds and subject them to mental harassment?” asked Mr. Trivedi, adding that there would be many other opportunities for Mr. Gandhi and the Congress to do politics after June 21.

Questioning the rationale behind the event, he asked, “When the decision for the re-test has been made and also noted by the Supreme Court, what exactly are you demanding?” While students were focusing on their preparations and the government was working with “sensitivity and vigilance” to ensure the examination was held smoothly, the Congress leader appeared to be pursuing a political agenda, he said.

The BJP leader also questioned why Mr. Gandhi chose Rajasthan, particularly Kota, where a large number of students prepare for competitive examinations. “Or is the internal politics in the Rajasthan Congress the reason why you are trying to play with the sentiments of students?” he wondered.

Mr. Trivedi alleged that students were being mobilised for the event by putting pressure on coaching centres and owners of paying-guest hostels in Kota.

Referring to the alleged examination irregularities during previous Congress governments in the State, Mr. Trivedi said: “During the Congress rule, 19 paper leaks happened and your government did not take action in any of them. Our government has taken action against about 400 people. No paper has been leaked during our two-and-half-years rule (in Rajasthan).”

The BJP leader described Mr. Gandhi’s move as part of an “established and well-planned toolkit mindset” to repeatedly target Indian institutions in a bid to spread “anarchy and confusion”. “We think this is the same toolkit that is now targeting India’s education system and creating confusion to spread disorder,” alleged Mr. Trivedi.

He said that before the combined entrance test system was introduced, medical seats in a large number of private colleges would be “auctioned” and children from low-income and middle-income families were deprived of opportunities. Questioning Mr. Gandhi’s motives, he asked, “Are you, by playing politics on this sensitive issue, trying to serve the interests of those who benefited from that system or the interests of students?”.

Referring to the NEET-UG controversy, Mr. Trivedi said, “Whatever happened this time was unprecedented. Even those involved in setting the question paper were found involved in leaking questions. The government is taking corrective measures to ensure that it is never repeated.”