Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of targeting students instead of tackling the networks
June 17, 2026: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi strongly criticised the Centre’s decision to block Telegram ahead of the NEET-UG re-examination scheduled for June 21. The move was implemented by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology following recommendations from the National Testing Agency (NTA). Gandhi argued that the government was inconveniencing students who use Telegram for study materials, discussions and exam preparation instead of taking action against those responsible for paper leaks.
In a sharp attack on the government, Gandhi questioned how restricting access to a platform used by millions of aspirants could solve the problem of examination fraud. He claimed that organised cheating networks would simply shift to other platforms and accused the government of focusing on symbolic measures rather than addressing the root causes of recurring paper leak controversies. He also criticised the extensive security arrangements planned for the re-test, calling them ineffective if the real culprits remain untouched.
The Congress leader urged the government to dismantle the alleged paper leak networks and hold those responsible accountable. Meanwhile, officials defended the decision, saying Telegram channels were being used to spread misinformation and exploit the platform’s message-editing feature to create misleading evidence related to examination leaks. Authorities maintained that the temporary restrictions were necessary to protect the integrity of the NEET-UG re-examination process.
Tags: Competitive Exams, NEET Retest, Education Ministry, Social Media Platforms, Political Row, India News, Examination Reforms