Delhi Congress held dharna outside the education ministry at Shastri Bhawan demanding deferment of the NEET-JEE exams considering the spread of the Corona virus.
Congress president Anil Kumar said that the Covid-19 pandemic cases have been witnessing a record spike across the country and it would not be prudent to hold these exams now.
Prominent among those who participated in the dharna included former MP Krishna Tirath, party vice presidents Jai Kishan and Mudit Agarwal and former Delhi Minister Professor Kiran Walia.
Kumar said that students are the greatest asset of the country and if their lives are put to deanger, it will affect the future of the country. "India is now ahead of all other countries in terms of the number of new recorded Covid-19 cases per day close to 70,000 in mid-August," he said.
The Modi Government at the Centre seems to be least bothered about the risk involved and the inconveniences the students would face if they are forced to appear in exams, he said.
Further, many students who want to take part in the NEET-JEE exams are either in the containment zones, flood-affected areas or remote places and it would be very difficult for them to attend the exams, he said, adding that not only the Congress party but others have also expressed their concern and opposition to holding of the NEET-JEE exams.
He said that the Congress has also started an online campaign #SpearkUp ForStudentSafety” demanding postponement of the exams.