Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Thursday appealed to students protesting the NEET paper leak issue to come forward for talks, assuring them that the government remains open to discussions on all their concerns. Speaking to the media, the Minister disclosed that as many as four separate offers for dialogue had been extended to student representatives of the ongoing protest within the last 24 hours alone, underlining what he described as the government’s genuine eagerness to resolve the standoff through conversation rather than confrontation.
Singh extended what he called a standing invitation for discussions to the protesting youth, adding that Union Minister JP Nadda would join him during any such dialogue. He informed reporters that talks could be held with an open mind either at the residence of Minister Nadda or at his office, offering flexibility on venue in what appeared to be an attempt to remove any procedural excuse for continued deadlock. Singh was categorical that no resolution could emerge without direct dialogue between the government and the students at the centre of the protest.
The Minister invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks from earlier in the day, saying the Prime Minister had candidly stated that the interests of students remain foremost for the government. According to Singh, it was Modi who took the significant decision to establish fast track courts specifically to handle cases connected to those responsible for the recent paper leaks, with the intention of ensuring final verdicts are delivered decisively and without unnecessary delay.
The NEET paper leak controversy has struck a particularly sensitive nerve given that the examination determines admission to medical colleges for hundreds of thousands of aspirants nationwide. Allegations of leaked question papers have fuelled anger among students who fear their years of preparation could be undermined by systemic lapses beyond their control, prompting sustained protests in the national capital and elsewhere.
By publicly detailing the frequency of outreach attempts and naming specific venues and participants, the government appears keen to shift the narrative away from accusations of indifference and toward a portrayal of active, good-faith engagement. Whether the protesting students accept the invitation for dialogue, and whether such talks yield concrete reforms to examination security, will likely shape the trajectory of the controversy in the days ahead. For now, the emphasis from the government’s side remains firmly on conversation over confrontation.
