Mamata Banerjee: 75% candidates in West Bengal couldn't appear for JEE-Main examinations

By Team Newsable | First Published Sep 3, 2020, 4:59 PM IST

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, said that 75% of JEE-Main candidates in the state could not appear for the exam held on September 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and blamed the Centre's "ego" for it.

Kolkata: Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee further raised her voice regarding the JEE-Main and NEET-UG exams. At a press conference in Nabanna on Wednesday (September 2), Mamata Banerjee alleged that 75% of candidates in the state and 50% candidates in other states failed to appear for the examination. Her plea is that the Centre should consider the issue of deprived students during the pandemic.

On Wednesday, Mamata said, “Out of 4,652 candidates in our state, 1,167 candidates were able to appear for the exam on September 1. That means only 25% candidates appeared in the examination. I made arrangements as per the Centre’s instructions. 75% candidates in the state were deprived of giving the examination. Due to the pandemic, 50% candidates in other states could not appear for the examination. I will request the Centre again to see if these candidates can be considered. Those who could not appear should be considered.”

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Political turmoil had erupted with the schedule of the examinations amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Chief ministers belonging to opposition parties of the Centre held a video meeting to demand the postponement of the examination. Opposition parties also appealed to the Supreme Court regarding the postponement of the examinations. But the examination commenced according to the scheduled date.

A miffed Mamata Banerjee asked, “What would have happened if the examination was postponed for some time? Why are people so stubborn and egoistic? Who gave them the right to ruin the future of the students?”

Also read: West Bengal: School reopens despite government order, conducts examination for students

BJP state president Dilip Ghosh criticised Mamata Banerjee on Twitter. He alleged that the future of millions of students in the state was being pushed into darkness by opposing the Centre's decision. He also demanded that appropriate arrangements have to be made so that no candidate is deprived of taking up the examination. In fact, if such examinations are conducted by the Centre, then the responsibility of organizing them in the state lies with the concerned administration, he iterated.

Apart from Mamata Banerjee’s claim that the state had made all preparations, on Wednesday, she said, “Apart from our state, there are five other states. I went to the Supreme Court because the students were in a lot of trouble. I have repeatedly requested the Centre to appeal for reconsideration of the examination.”

“The students requested to postpone the examination due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They have never said that they will not give the examination. The Centre scheduled the date of the examination. They did not listen to any of our requests. I feel bad for the 75% candidates who could not give the examination.” she added.

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