Ahilyanagar, July 22: Veteran social activist Anna Hazare has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fix ministerial accountability and engage in constructive dialogue with youth and environmental activist Sonam Wangchuk regarding recurring national examination leaks and student grievances.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Hazare emphasised that enforcing accountability and accepting the resignation of a concerned minister over systemic irregularities would demonstrate administrative resolve rather than weakness. He wrote that if accountability is fixed and the resignation of a minister is taken, the government will not lose power but send a clear message to other ministers that failure to discharge responsibilities would mean relinquishing posts.
This, he said, would make the functioning of the government more accountable and effective. Hazare pointed out a persistent pattern in public administration where lower‑level officials face disciplinary action during scams while senior leadership claims credit for successes.
He asserted that ultimate responsibility for departmental failures lies with the top leadership. Highlighting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Hazare noted that serious paper leak allegations plagued the examination in 2024 and surfaced again this year, directly affecting nearly 2.2 million candidates.
Citing media reports, Hazare expressed anguish over the loss of 22 young lives due to despair and distress surrounding re‑examination uncertainties. He said millions of youth are alarmed by delayed recruitments, paper leaks and widespread unemployment, stressing that these anxieties represent genuine public grief rather than standard police matters.
Addressing the ongoing 25‑day agitation in New Delhi, Hazare called reports of police crackdowns and the forcible removal of Sonam Wangchuk from his fast venue “deeply distressing”. He criticised the administration for relying on heavy‑handed police action instead of deputing government representatives or senior officials to engage in meaningful dialogue.
Hazare cautioned against treating public discontent strictly as a law‑and‑order issue or misinterpreting peaceful dissent as political opposition. Advising the Union Government to abide by democratic values and Gandhian principles, he urged PM Modi to listen patiently to protesting students and parents, build mutual trust and resolve systemic issues through open discussion.
IANS
