Akhilesh Yadav in Lok Sabha jabs BJP on NEET paper leak row EVM jobs

Taking a swipe at the BJP-led NDA over its reduced numbers in the Lok Sabha election, Samajwadi Party MP and chief Akhilesh Yadav said it was a moral victory for the opposition INDIA bloc.

Participating in the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, the Kannauj MP said the public had broken the pride of the government as the INDIA bloc, defying predictions, gave the NDA a close fight.

“Awaam ne tod diya hukumat ka guroor… darbar to laga hai… ghamgeen, benoor hai par… it feels that for the first time there is a defeated government. The people are saying that this government won’t run. It was a moral victory for the INDI alliance in the elections. It was a victory of positive politics,” he said.

While the BJP-led NDA bagged 293 seats, the INDIA bloc secured 232 seats.

ON NEET PAPER LEAK ROW

Launching a stinging attack on the Centre over the NEET-UG exam row, Akhilesh Yadav alleged that such paper leaks were being done by the government to deny jobs to the youth.

“Why are paper leaks happening? The truth is that this is being done by the government so that it doesn’t have to give jobs to the youth,” Akhilesh Yadav said.

“Youth have not been given jobs, instead jobs have been snatched by the government. Government jobs are not being given in the name of giving reservations,” Akhilesh further said.

The NEET-UG 2024 examination for undergraduate medical programs has stirred a row over allegations of a question paper leak, leading to widespread protests. Days later, the UGC-NET exam was also cancelled, with the government saying that the paper was leaked on the dark web.

ON EVM, AGNIPATH SCHEME

Amid a debate over the possibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) being hacked, Akhilesh Yadav said he never trusted the devices. “Even if I win 80 seats, I will not trust EVMs. I never trusted EVM, and will never do,” he said.

The Samajwadi Party MP reiterated the INDIA bloc’s promise that it would end the Agnipath scheme for recruitment in the Army if it came to power. In fact, Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), an NDA partner, has also sought a review of the scheme.

Under the scheme, personnel are recruited in the Army, Navy and the Air Force on a short-term contract of four years.

“We are in favour of the caste censusâ€æ We can never accept the Agniveer scheme. When the INDIA alliance comes to power, the Agniveer scheme will be scrapped… Legal guarantee of MSP on crops has not been implemented. Horticulture crops should also be given MSP,” he said.