NEET-JEE exam row: NSUI hunger strike enters second day, Cong leaders express solidarity

hunger strike started by National Student Union of India (NSUI) members demanding postponement of NEET and JEE exams entered second day today. NSUI student body of Indian National Congress (INC) began an indefinite hunger strike at youth Congress office on Wednesday.

ir protest today saw support of Member Of Parliament Rajeev Satav, he expressed solidarity with NSUI president Neeraj Kunan and his colleagues who have been sitting on a hunger strike since yesterday and said that government should t be conducting exams in se difficult times.

Satav, dressing media said, “NSUI president is relentlessly fighting for students of country who do t want to take exams in se difficult times when a pandemic has struck nation. Many political leers have contracted COVID19 including several ministers. People are scared from stepping outside ir houses. In such situations this decision by government to conduct exams is wrong. It is t okay to put lives of students in danger. I support demand of NSUI seeking postponement of NEET and JEE exams.”

However, National Testing ncy (NTA) which conducts NEET and JEE exams citing August 17 order of Supreme court which ruled for conducting exams saying, “life must go on” has said exams will be conducted as per schedule.  NEET and JEE exams will be held next month from September 1 to September 6.

Treing similar paths as Satav Congress national spokesperson Amrita Dhawan said, “we support NSUI’s bid we want that government postpones NEET and JEE exams considering pandemic situation in country.” Meanwhile, Kundan who is helming strike has refused to seek medical aid after a team of doctors visited youth Congress office to check upon health of protestors. “It is t matter of my health. We are sitting for health of 25 lakh students. Our fight will continue,” he said.

tably, NTA has taken several initiatives to ensure safety of students. From providing students with examination centre of ir choice to managing number of shifts, student strength per room, increasing number of examination centre among ors. Over 100 acemicians across nation have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in favour of Conducting exams. y are of view that alrey much delay has been caused and that without any postponement NEET and JEE exams should be conducted as per schedule.