NEET-JEE Row: Congress to hold nationwide protests on August 28

Guwahati: In opposition to the government's decision to hold NEET, JEE exams during the pandemic, the Congress will hold countrywide protests on August 28, the party announced.

"In line with concerted opposition to this mindless and dictatorial move of the central government, Congress will be holding protests on Friday at 11 am in front of central government offices at state and district headquarters. They will oppose the decision of the government to hold these exams during the pandemic," Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said in a statement.

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," Mr. Venugopal 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 organize 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.

Chief spokesperson of Congress, Randeep Surjewala said health and safety of 25 lakh students are being jeopardized 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".

Surjewala asked by posting a set of questions, who will "oversee that the guidelines and protocols do not remain an empty paper formality". He further asked if any special arrangements have been made for students of Bihar and Assam who are flood affected.