New Delhi, May 12: AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said that students affected by the cancellation of the NEET UG 2026 should resort to mass protests as the government only understands the language of agitation.
Expressing solidarity with the students affected by the cancellation of the national medical entrance test, Kejriwal also alleged that “repeated paper leaks” pointed to “collusion at a high level”.
The AAP leader’s remarks followed after the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday cancelled the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), or NEET, held on May 3 amid allegations of paper leak, with the government asking the CBI to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into the “irregularities”.
Addressing a press conference here, Kejriwal said that many families spend substantial amounts on coaching and preparation for such competitive examinations.
“I sympathise with all the students affected by the cancellation of the NEET paper. I know how hard students work for such exams. Coaching is expensive, and many families even pawn their jewellery to arrange money,” he said.
Recalling his own experience of preparing for competitive examinations, Kejriwal said students devote years of effort to such tests, and termed paper leaks a “betrayal” of their hard work.
He also claimed that the NEET paper was leaked multiple times in recent years, and questioned why those responsible had not been punished.
“This is not the first time that the NEET paper has been leaked. Papers do not leak on their own. There appears to be collusion and political patronage at some level,” he alleged.
Calling paper leaks the “biggest betrayal” of students, the former Delhi chief minister said, “How can those who cannot prevent paper leaks run the government? It is a case of complete collusion.”
Urging students to raise their voice on the issue, Kejriwal said, “I want to tell the students that they will have to come out on the streets. The AAP would stand with them. This government only understands the language of mass agitation… Kejriwal is with you,” he said.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the cancellation of NEET UG 2026 has affected lakhs of students and sought accountability in the matter.
Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj also expressed concern over repeated allegations of paper leak, and said such incidents could affect the confidence in the country’s education system.
The NEET-UG 2026 was held on May 3 across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad. The NTA organised the examination for nearly 23 lakh registered candidates at centres across the country.
Taking responsibility for the cancellation, NTA Director General Abhishek Singh later said the schedule for the re-examination would be announced within the “next seven to 10 days”. (PTI)
