Rahul Gandhi demands probe into alleged NEET data leak
New Delhi, July 24 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday demanded a probe into the alleged massive breach of personal data of candidates who had appeared for NEET 2018 exams.
In a letter to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Chairperson Anita Karwal, Gandhi highlighted media reports about the breach of over 2,00,000 students' data who appeared for the National Eligibility and Entrance Test.
"It is alleged that this data is available on certain websites for a price," he said.
The media reports have claimed that details of the candidates, including their phone numbers, e-mail IDs and addresses, were put up online for a price of Rs two lakh.
The Congress leader said that he was shocked by this wide-scale theft of personal data that could compromise the privacy of candidates across the country.
"This highlights the serious lack of safeguards to prevent data breach, and calls into question the ability of the CBSE to ensure the sanctity of the examination process," he said.
Gandhi said: "I strongly urge you to order an inquiry against this shocking lapse and take action against the officials responsible for the same."
He also asked the CBSE to put in "additional safeguards" to prevent the recurrence of such data lapse in future.
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Unruly scenes witnessed in Punjab Assembly
Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab Assembly on Friday witnessed high drama on Friday after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira made an allegedly objectionable remark against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during an intense argument over the alleged use of mobile phone in the house by the legislator.
During the one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Mann accused Khaira of using a mobile phone when Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was reading out an official resolution on the revision of wages.
After rising from his seat, the chief minister pointed to the speaker, claiming that Khaira is busy on his mobile phone and urged him to ask the Congress MLA what Sandhwan had said about the resolution.
The speaker then asked Khaira to maintain order in the house and listen to the resolution carefully.
Mann then asked Khaira, "Why don't you go out and then use it (mobile phone)," which led to a strong verbal altercation during which the opposition MLA hurled an accusation against the chief minister. Meanwhile, the speaker appealed for order and insisted that the chair be addressed.
However, both Mann and Khaira continued arguing and could be seen pointing fingers at each other as the proceedings of the house were disrupted.
The AAP MLAs also rose from their seats with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemning Khaira for his conduct and demanded action against him.
Cheema further alleged that Khaira "always tries to disturb the house" as he spoke about his conduct in the assembly.
The incident occurred as an official resolution on the revision of wages was presented at the special session by Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond who said it paid homage to labourers on the International Workers' Day.
"Workers are the axis of construction of the nation, the community, the state and society. Every construction project succeeds only through their blood and sweat," the resolution read.
As per the resolution, "The base rate of minimum wages for the working class in Punjab was last revised in the year 2012. Although the dearness allowance has continued to increase since 2012, there has been no increase in the base rate of minimum wages.
On this sacred occasion of May Day, in this special session of the legislative assembly, this house proposes to revise and increase the minimum wages of labourers and strongly recommends to the government to take a decision regarding the increase of minimum wages for workers, so that the contributions of the workers can be acknowledged." PRK
