New Delhi : Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Thursday explained his silence on the NEET paper leak, saying the issue cannot be resolved through “media soundbites” and instead requires an institutional solution. Speaking during the debate on the anti-paper leak bill, Chadha said his role had changed since moving from the Opposition to the treasury benches.
“Earlier, when I was in the Opposition, it was my job to raise questions, and I did it honestly. Now I am on the treasury benches, so my role has changed. My responsibility is no longer to ask questions but to provide solutions,” Chadha said. The 37-year-old MP said he had deliberately chosen not to speak on the NEET controversy until he believed there was a concrete solution to present. He said he was not interested in generating headlines or appearing before cameras merely to mark his presence.
Chadha also addressed students affected by the controversy, saying their anger and frustration were justified. He pointed out that for many NEET aspirants, clearing the exam represents a chance to secure a better future for their families. He said students often move to cities such as Kota and Delhi, sacrifice their social and family lives and depend on expensive coaching, while their parents stretch household budgets to support them. He then praised the NDA government for responding to students’ concerns, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi had listened to them “like a guardian”.
He also highlighted the pace of the NEET paper leak investigation, claiming that a chargesheet was filed in a fast-track court within 75 days and that the probe was not allowed to drag on. Chadha further announced that future NEET examinations would be conducted through a computer-based system instead of the traditional OMR-sheet format. Chadha argued that paper leaks should be treated as a systemic problem rather than a political weapon. He called for accountability and ethical governance regardless of which state was involved, which minister was in charge or which political party was in power.
Turning to Punjab, Chadha criticised his former party over alleged irregularities in the Pharmacy Officer recruitment examination held on July 19. He alleged that candidates were helped to cheat using Bluetooth devices and claimed an organised cheating syndicate had charged aspirants as much as Rs 13 lakh for facilitating malpractice.
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