Farooq Abdullah demands thorough probe into NEET paper leak, strict punishment for culprits

Srinagar, May 29: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah on Friday demanded a full-fledged investigation into the alleged NEET paper leak and said the five states “where the leak took place” are governed by the BJP.

“Had there been no shortcomings, then would this have happened?” Abdullah asked while talking to reporters here. He was responding to a question about the possible shortcomings in the system as Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has now sought the help of the Army and Indian Air Force for transporting the papers.

Abdullah said the five states “where this paper leak took place — Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat — are governed by the BJP”.

“There should be a full-fledged investigation. Those who are involved should be punished because our children are suffering. The children have to sit for the examination again and that too in this heat when the temperature has touched 48 degrees Celsius at some places. God have mercy on us,” he added.

To a question about the encounter in Rajouri district in Jammu, the National Conference chief asked “When did encounters stop here?”

“There is no other way than dialogue. Today, even the US wants to seek a way out through dialogue,” he said.

When asked with whom the dialogue should take place, Abdullah, the three-time chief minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, said “With whom we have issues.”

On BJP’s claim that everything is fine in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, Abdullah quipped: “Truly, everything is getting fine.”

“You are seeing what toofan (storm) is there… Abhi toh ibtida-e-ishq hai, rota hai kya, aage aage dekh hota hai kya (This is the beginning of love, why do you cry; you’ll see what happens as we move forward)” the NC president said.

On the rape and murder of a minor girl in Budgam, Abdullah said people have drifted away from God and have got closer to the devil.

“That is why these things happen… Our faith has weakened, we are now Muslims by name only, not practice. Unless we become Muslims by practice, we will never come out of these miseries. People should remember God, offer Namaz, and read Quran. That is the only path,” he added.

He also said criticism of the government by the opposition was essential as it helps the government to take right steps.