Uttarakhand BJP chief apologises after remarks on NEET protesters spark outrage

Uttarakhand BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt apologised after his remarks on students triggered a political row over the NEET paper leak issue. The controversy also deepened the BJP-Congress clash in the state.

In Short

• A video clip triggered political sparring over language used about students
• Congress said the remarks insulted youths protesting alleged exam irregularities
• Bhatt claimed opponents twisted his words and spread a misleading interpretation

Uttarakhand BJP chief Mahendra Bhatt has apologised after drawing criticism from the Congress and other organisations over allegedly objectionable remarks against students amid the row over the NEET paper leak issue. In a social media post on Sunday, Bhatt said he regretted his wording if it had hurt anyone's sentiments and apologised.

Bhatt said it was not his intention to hurt anyone's feelings. The apology came a day after a video of him surfaced online, with the Congress alleging that he had insulted thousands of young people and students who were raising their voices against alleged irregularities in examinations.

In his social media post, Bhatt said, "If any word or the way I phrased my statement yesterday inadvertently hurt anyone's sentiments, I regret it and offer my apologies." In a separate video shared on Sunday, he said the opposition was misrepresenting his statement and maintained that he had not used the kind of language being attributed to him.

State Congress president Ganesh Godiyal had said Bhatt's abusive language showed how deeply upset he was over Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation as Union education minister over the NEET paper leak issue. Referring to an earlier controversy, Godiyal reminded his BJP counterpart that Premchand Aggarwal had also been forced to resign as minister over the use of similar abusive language.

"This reflects your attitude towards students and the people here. You should apologise before this matter escalates further," Godiyal had said. He added that if Bhatt did not apologise, students and youths would stage a sit-in outside his residence.

State BJP media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan defended Bhatt, saying his remarks were being misinterpreted. The controversy has come amid sustained attacks by the Congress on the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government over alleged irregularities in various recruitment examinations, including a recently reported alleged question paper leak at Uttarakhand Technical University.

The state government has said it follows a policy of zero tolerance against question paper leaks, has brought in a stringent anti-cheating law and has sent several accused to jail in connection with such cases. Bhatt's apology and the political exchange around his remarks have added to the wider debate over examination irregularities in the state.

- Ends