New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) Chief Ministers of non BJP ruled states on Wednesday decided to move the Supreme Court against the decision of the Central government to hold NEET and JEE examinations amid the Covid pandemic.
After a virtual meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the issue, the Chief Ministers of Opposition ruled states decided to move Supreme Court against the decision of the Central Government, AICC General secretary K C Venugopal said in a statement.
'The Chief Ministers reiterated that this move of the Central Government has to be opposed collectively. They also decided to move Supreme Court against the decision of the Central Government,' Mr Venugopal said.
.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has also raised the demand to postpone the JEE-NEET exams taking the concerns of students into account.
“NEET-JEE aspirants are worried about their health & future”, he added, “They have genuine concerns of fear of Covid19 infection; transport & lodging during pandemic; flood-mayhem in Assam & Bihar. GOI must listen to all stakeholders & find an acceptable solution,' Rahul said in a tweet.
In this regard, the NSUI is also holding an indefinite hunger strike against this unilateral move from the Central Government.
Mr Venugopal said that 'In line with concerted opposition to this mindless and dictatorial move of the Central Government, PCCs 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. All these protest gatherings will take place following strict social distancing protocols issued by the respective health and civic authorities.
Along with this, the party has decided to organise a massive nationwide online campaign, 'Speak Up For Student Safety on the same day from 10 am onwards, by way of videos/posts protesting this decision, on any of the social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube etc.),' Venugopal said.
The Congress leader said that despite protests by Students and parents from across the country to postpone the JEE-NEET exams, scheduled to be held in the middle of the ever burgeoning Covid-19 crisis, the Central Government is moving ahead with the decision to hold these exams.
'Lakhs of Students and parents from across the country are rightfully agitating and demanding to postpone the JEE-NEET exams, scheduled to be held in the middle of the ever burgeoning Covid-19 crisis. However, an ever insensitive and mindless Central Government is moving ahead with the decision to hold these exams despite the obvious risk it holds.
The decision to hold these exams during the Covid crisis has created huge concern among the students and parents owing to the fear of Covid-19 infection if forced to sit physically for an offline examination at designated centres. 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 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.
UNI AR SHK2245