Amit Shah: Students, youth more important than any post after minister quits over NEET leak

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday stated that for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the nation's youth and students hold greater importance than any official position. His remarks came after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned amid protests over the NEET paper leak controversy.

In a post on X late Saturday night, Shah said, 'The Modi government respects the sentiments of the country's youth and is committed to implementing the necessary reforms against paper leaks.' He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decisions to ensure strict punishment for those guilty of paper leaks were commendable.

'For the BJP, the nation, our youth and students hold far greater importance than any position,' Shah wrote. He expressed confidence that the steps taken would ensure 'complete justice for the students who succeeded in the NEET examination.'

Pradhan's resignation on Saturday followed weeks of protests by medical aspirants alleging a systematic leak of the NEET question paper. The controversy had prompted demands for a thorough investigation and accountability.

Shah praised Pradhan's tenure, highlighting reforms in the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), expansion of PM SHRI Schools, promotion of digital education, and strengthening industry-academia coordination. He described Pradhan's efforts as 'a testament to his dedication to the resolve of making India a developed nation.'

The resignation marks a significant development in the government's response to the NEET paper leak crisis. The opposition has called for a deeper probe and questioned the government's handling of examination integrity.