Congress Rajya Sabha MP Deepender Singh Hooda has lauded the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) for bringing public issues to the fore through a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. However, he expressed surprise at the swift permission granted for this demonstration, contrasting it with alleged past rejections of similar requests from opposition parties, farmers, and sportspersons.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that Hooda, speaking to media on the sidelines of a public meeting in Haryana, stated that while it is commendable for the CJP to address public concerns, particularly those of the youth, the ease with which they obtained permission for a Jantar Mantar protest is puzzling. He recalled instances where the Congress and other opposition parties, as well as farmers who protested for over a year on the borders of Delhi, and women wrestlers during their agitation, were reportedly denied permission to protest at the same venue. Hooda highlighted that approximately 750 farmers lost their lives during their prolonged protest.
The Rohtak MP asserted that if a recently formed organisation could secure permission in a short timeframe, then opposition parties and social groups should be afforded similar democratic space. He further drew attention to the issue of the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) paper leak, strongly criticizing the Union government and demanding accountability from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Hooda called for the immediate resignation of the Education Minister, arguing that justice is owed to the approximately 22 lakh students who appeared for the examination.
Recalling past examinations, Hooda noted that prestigious tests like PMT (Pre-Medical Test), JEE (Joint Entrance Examination), and other medical entrance exams were conducted smoothly before 2014 without significant paper leak controversies. He questioned why paper leaks have become a recurring problem since 2014, with reports indicating that around 90 examination papers have been leaked in recent years. This recurring issue, he stated, subjects students to uncertainty, stress, and disappointment annually, and he also referred to reports of student suicides linked to paper leaks.
Hooda emphasized that the government should focus on fixing responsibility rather than merely shifting officials between departments. He specifically pointed out that appointing the former CBSE Chairman to a senior position in the Agriculture Department sends the wrong message regarding accountability, suggesting it does not constitute appropriate disciplinary action.
Addressing allegations of being deliberately targeted by the police during a protest in Kurukshetra on Saturday concerning the NEET issue, Hooda responded by stating that democracy itself is the target, and by extension, every youth in Haryana whose voice the party seeks to amplify is also a target.
In the company of former state youth Congress president Divyanshu Budhiraja, former MLAs Rakesh Kamboj, Bakshish Singh Virk, Dharampal Gondar, Sultan Singh Jadola, Urban District Congress president Parag Gaba, and other senior party leaders, Hooda also castigated the BJP government over escalating inflation. He claimed that diesel, petrol, and LPG prices have reached record highs under the current administration. Referencing the recent increase in domestic cooking gas prices, he highlighted the financial strain faced by ordinary families already grappling with the burden of inflation. He further accused the BJP of failing to fulfill the promises made during election campaigns.
The Chenab Times News Desk