Surya targets Cong over rally on NEET exams day in Bengaluru, Minister Kharge hits back

Bengaluru (PTI): BJP leader Tejasvi Surya on Sunday targeted the ruling Congress in Karnataka for organising a mega rally in the city on the day of NEET exams, which allegedly caused inconvenience to students from reaching exam centres on time, due to “massive traffic disruption”.

In response, Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge, without taking Surya's name referred to him as “serial misinformation MP”, and termed his allegation as “half-truths and manufactured outrage.” He also presented certain facts on what actually happened.

The event which Surya was referring to was, Congress’ mega convention at Palace Grounds here, organised in connection with B K Hariprasad taking charge as the party’s new state president.

In a post on X, Surya said, “The Congress party could have chosen any other day for its rally at Palace Grounds. Instead, it chose the very day thousands of students are appearing for NEET. As massive traffic disruptions choked Bengaluru, many students were delayed, some reaching exam centres in panic and having to plead with authorities to be allowed inside.”

He said, thankfully, examination authorities accommodated them and provided compensatory time.

Alleging that for weeks, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been shedding “crocodile tears” over students and examinations, the Bengaluru South MP said,

“Had his concern been genuine, his party would have avoided holding a mega political rally in the heart of the city at the exact time of one of India’s most important entrance exams.”

“Students deserve sensitivity, not political theatrics. Concern for students cannot be a slogan in Delhi and an inconvenience in Bengaluru,” he added.

Hitting back, Minister Kharge without taking the MP’s name said, “As usual, the serial misinformation MP is doing what he does best: spreading half-truths and manufactured outrage.”

Presenting “facts”, he said, a total of 720 students were allotted RC College as their NEET examination centre. Of these, 142 were absent. Three students missed the examination.

One student, travelling from Magadi, could not get a bus on time and reached the centre late, resulting in her missing the exam, he said in a post on ‘X’.

"Another candidate arrived with an old hall ticket belonging to the examination conducted on May 3, and therefore was not permitted to write the exam."

The Minister said only one candidate travelling from the RT Nagar side missed the exam, and the exact reason is still being ascertained.

“The Bengaluru Traffic Police had issued public notifications and traffic advisories well in advance,” he pointed out.

Kharge said that the BJP MP, who is “overflowing with concern” for students missing exams for different reasons, was conveniently silent when his own “incompetent government” allowed more than 22 lakh students to suffer due to NEET mismanagement, paper leaks and chaos, with over 10 students reportedly dying by suicide.

“By the BJP MP’s own logic, if a student missing exam today must be blamed on the Congress rally, then Modi (PM) and Dharmendra Pradhan (Union Minister) must be held directly responsible for the paper leaks, student distress and deaths and must be thrown out of office,” he said.

“Unfortunately for the empty trunk MP, there are no emergency exits here for him to open and escape through after making a baseless allegation,” he added.