CPI Joins Chorus, Demands Talks with Ailing Sonam Wangchuk, Pradhan's Exit Amidst Exam Leak Fury

The Communist Party of India (CPI) has intensified political pressure on the Union government, urgently calling for dialogue with environmental and education activist Sonam Wangchuk, whose health is reportedly worsening after weeks on a hunger strike. Simultaneously, the CPI has demanded the immediate resignation or removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him responsible for a string of major examination paper leak that have rocked the country's education system and left millions of students in despair. This demand comes amid a furious national debate over repeated integrity compromises in high-stakes exams, including the NEET-UG 2024 and UGC-NET 2024, which were marred by allegations of widespread leaks and irregularities. While Minister Pradhan initially dismissed some paper leak claims, he later acknowledged lapses by officials and took responsibility for the distress and student suicides linked to these controversies. The National Testing Agency (NTA), tasked with conducting these examinations, faces severe criticism for its repeated failures, with multiple investigations, including by the CBI, underway into alleged malpractices and even AI-generated OMR sheets. With Sonam Wangchuk continuing his fast at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, pushing not only for an end to exam leaks but also for constitutional safeguards for Ladakh, the government faces mounting pressure from various opposition parties, including the CPI(M) and Congress, who are also demanding Pradhan's resignation and comprehensive reforms in the testing system. As protests are planned across the country, the coming days will reveal whether the Centre engages in meaningful talks or continues to face a unified political and student backlash over the crisis threatening India's youth.