The government's decision to temporarily ban the Telegram app in the context of NEET-UG paper leak concerns has sparked a controversy. Opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed the move, raising doubts on whether the move would actually prevent paper leaks.
Telegram has temporarily been restricted for use in India ahead of the NEET-UG re-exam scheduled for June 21. In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi wondered if social media platform WhatsApp would be next on the government's radar for placing restrictions.
Kejriwal called the steps taken by the government 'absurd' and said there was no real intention to stop paper leaks. 'Transporting papers via army ships, shutting down Telegram. Will these steps stop paper leaks? Absolutely not. The paper leak business is a multi-billion-rupee racket. The money goes all the way to the top. If paper leaks are stopped, where will the money come from to buy MLAs/MPs?,' a part of Kejriwal's post on X read.
Rahul Gandhi said the Telegram restrictions go on to show that efforts were being made to 'lock up' the victim instead of the culprit. 'Chor ko pakadne ke bajaye peedit ke ghar par taala laga do (Instead of catching the thief, just hang a lock on the victim's door). Millions of students have been studying on Telegram for years - notes, test series, discussions, preparation. How does snatching that facility become the solution to paper leaks?,' Rahul Gandhi wrote.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday restricted access to Telegram in India till June 22, a day after the NEET re-exam. The NTA has also warned students about fabricated 'proof' videos and manipulated chats being circulated to trap anxious candidates and parents.
