Mamata Urges All Opposition Chief Ministers To Move Supreme Court To Postpone JEE, NEET

Kolkata: Mamata Banerjee has appealed to all opposition chief ministers to move the Supreme Court for postponement of next month’s JEE and NEET exams in view of COVID-19.

At a virtual meeting with seven chief ministers, called by Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday, the Congress chief said that the Centre is dealing with student’s problems “uncaringly”.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata went a step forward. “This will be my request to all state governments, let us do it together, let us go to Supreme Court and postpone the exam for the time being until and unless the situation allows students to sit for exam (JEE/NEET),” she stated, adding that she had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times to intervene in the matter and urge the apex court to review its decision in the interest of the student community.

Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren felt that the opposition CMs should approach the Prime Minister or President before knocking on the Supreme Court’s door.

Like Mamata, Soren criticised the Centre for using agencies against the Opposition and undermining the federal structure.

Several Opposition parties and leaders have been demanding a rethink on conduct of the crucial exams next month. Students and parents had moved the Supreme Court seeking postponement of the crucial entrance exams, but to no avail.

The National Testing Agency has already issued guidelines for the exams and released admit cards as well, to be available online.

The meeting was also attended by Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, Congress CMs Amarinder Singh, Ashok Gehlot, Bhupesh Baghel and V Narayanasamy.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray asserted that all powers are getting concentrated in one hand. “First we will have to decide darna hain ki ladna hain…ladna hain to ladna hain..we have to protect federalism.”