With the Central Government going ahead with its decision to conduct the NEET and JEE exam, several political parties have lodged a strong protest against conducting examinations in such difficult times and have demanded to postpone the examinations.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has demanded the Central Government to postpone the examination in view of Covid-19 spread. While speaking to a news channel he said that it is not the right time to conduct the exam in the midst of the pandemic, which has left everyone’s life haywire.
Baghel said that the examinations were to be held in May, but were not conducted due to corona crisis. Now in late August, when Corona figures are increasing across the country, why such decision has been taken.
The Chief Minister raised the question as to how social distancing will be implemented between examinations. He said that if the outbreak of corona is reduced, examinations can be conducted. There are 3 or 4 centers in the state, so all the candidates will come to take the examinations and gather at one place. How far is it reasonable to conduct examinations? It is right that it is necessary to conduct examinations but if it can be shifted from May to September, then it can also be extended to November.
Recently, several political leaders including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik have also demanded the Center to postpone the examinations.
However, amidst this massive controversy over NEET and JEE Main exams, Union Minister of Education Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ on Thursday defended the Centre’s move to go ahead with the exams. Releasing a video statement, the education minister said that over two-third of candidates have downloaded the admit cards which shows that students want these exams to be conducted at any cost.