Madhu Bangarappa questions Pradhan’s silence on NEET paper leak

Mysuru: Primary and secondary education minister Madhu Bangarappa on Saturday challenged Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to learn from Karnataka on how to conduct examinations without question paper leaks.

Speaking to reporters after meeting noted writer and thinker Devanuru Mahadeva at his residence in Mysuru, Bangarappa referred to the controversy surrounding the NEET-UG examination and said the issue had led to the suicides of the students.

Questioning the silence of the Union minister, Bangarappa said, “Why did Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan stay away for four or five days after the paper leak? There was not a single question paper leak in the three examinations conducted by Karnataka’s education department. If he does not know how to conduct examinations, let him come to me; I will teach him.”

Bangarappa also responded to critics who have questioned his academic credentials, challenging them to first produce certificates of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s education. “I will produce my original certificate,” he said.

Commenting on the hijab issue, the minister said the BJP views it as a controversy, while the Congress sees it as a matter of equality. Claiming that hijabs are allowed in Kendriya Vidyalaya schools, he urged BJP leaders to refer to the rules followed by the Kendriya Vidyalayas . “We have followed the same rules. There is no place for saffron shawls in Kendriya Vidyalayas. Let them first allow shawls in KVs and then come to us,” he said.

On the proposed State Education Policy (SEP), Bangarappa clarified that it would not be implemented during the current calendar year. He said the draft policy would be sent to the cabinet sub-committee by mid-June. “It is an ongoing process. We will follow whatever the cabinet sub-committee decides. It will be implemented only after cabinet approval,” he said.

Accusing the Centre of imposing its ideology, the minister said, “We do not want to give space to the central govt to impose its ideologies. They have that habit. That is why we revised our textbooks.”

He also said the state govt cannot compel govt employees to send their children to govt schools. “We cannot bring a law in this regard. We can only appeal. We cannot make it mandatory,” he added.

Minister meets Devanuru Mahadeva

Speaking about his meeting with Mahadeva, the minister described it as a courtesy visit. “He gave several suggestions, including staging the play ‘Govina Haadu’ for children,” he said.