'Only 25% in state appeared for JEE exam due to COVID-19': Mamata Banerjee slams Centre

As opposition parties traded barbs with Centre over scheduling of JEE and NEET exams amid COVID-19, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has claimed that only 25% of students from state appeared for Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) that was held on Tuesday. She slammed Centre and called it “adamant attitude” of Central Government for conducting entrance exams amid pandemic.

"y (students) were t able to attempt JEE examinations. In or states, more than 50% of students were t able to appear for it because of pandemic situation,” Banerjee said while addressing media.

“Amid  Covid-19 pandemic, we have raised serious concern over Centre’s decision to hold termly examination for various courses in colleges and universities and also t to conduct NEET and JEE in September. Unfortunately, Centre refused to postpone it,” she told reporters.

She said that students had requested Centre to postpone exams by a few weeks but Centre turned down request. "Who has given right to destroy careers of students across country? Why are y so adamant?” she questioned.

READ | Rlys To Run 20 Pairs Of Special Trains From Sept 2- 15 For JEE, NEET, NDA Exam Candidates In Bihar

READ | Mamata Banerjee Writes To PM Modi; Expresses 'anguish Over GST Imbroglio'

Centre vs Opposition over JEE/NEET exams

Even as Opposition had been vehemently opposing Centre's move to conduct entrance exams in September, Centre had been of opinion that y have already been postponed twice in view of pandemic and any furr delay would be playing with future of students. Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had stated that career of students was  first priority for Union government. He maintained that one year of students should t be wasted. Moreover, he quoted Supreme Court order which found merit in postponing JEE and NEET exams.

While Centre faced criticism from Opposition and a section of students for conducting JEE Mains and NEET amid rising COVID-19 cases, over 100 academicians from various universities in India and abroad had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that delaying medical and engineering entrance exams any furr will mean compromising future of students.

Around 9.53 lakh candidates have registered for JEE-Main examination which will be held between September 1 to 6, while  NEET examination is scheduled for September 13 for which 15.97 lakh students have registered.

READ | 'I Feel Like Vidura': Subramanian Swamy Draws Mahabharat Reference To JEE, NEET Exams

READ | Rahul Gandhi Hits Out At Govt For Igring Demand For NEET-JEE Postponement, Delay In SSC Results