'First it hurt me, later I took advantage': Sitharaman's paper leak remarks spark political row
Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is facing backlash for suggesting that students benefited from the extra preparation time caused by the NEET paper leak controversy. Opposition parties have labeled her comments as insensitive, while the government maintains that its response to the crisis has been effective and timely.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights the intense political friction surrounding educational integrity and government accountability in India.
NEW DELHI: Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has come under fire over her remarks on the NEET paper leak controversy after she said some students had used the additional time before the re-examination to improve their performance. The remarks drew sharp criticism from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and Opposition leaders, who accused her of being "insensitive" to students impacted by the alleged leaks.Speaking to news agency ANI, Sitharaman defended the government's handling of the paper leak controversy, saying its response had ensured timely arrests, re-examinations and declaration of results.Sitharaman said the government's response included timely arrests, a re-examination and prompt declaration of results.
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