Over 150 academicians belonging to various universities across India and abroad wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday stating that any further delay to conduct the medical and engineering entrance exams-JEE and NEET- would only mean compromising the future of students.

The academicians referred to the chorus growing against the conducting of exams as a ploy devised by a select few to “promote their political agenda.”

In their letter, the academicians wrote “Some are trying to play with the future of the students to propel their own political agenda.”

In the letter, the academicians stated “Youths and students are the future of the nation but in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, clouds of uncertainty have gathered over their careers too. There are lot of apprehensions about admission and classes which need to be resolved at the earliest.” 

The letter stated that millions of students had completed their Class 12 exams this year and added that they were eager to take the next step.

“The government has announced the dates for JEE-Mains and NEET…any further delay in conducting the exams will result in waste of precious year for students. The dreams and future of our youth and students cannot be compromised at any cost. However, some are trying to play with the future of our students simply to propel their own political agenda and oppose the government,” stated the letter.

The signatories of the letter included academicians from apex institutions in the country like Delhi University, IGNOU, Lucknow University, JNU, BHU, IIT Delhi. Likewise, distinguished academicians from foreign universities like the University of London, University of California, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and others also signed the letter.

The letter states “We strongly believe that the central government will successfully conduct the JEE and NEET exams taking full precautions to ensure that the future of students is taken care of and the academic calendar for 2020-21 is rolled out.”

Earlier in the day, more than 14 lakh admit cards for the medical and engineering exams were downloaded after the National Testing Agency released them. 

However, Chief Ministers from several non-BJP ruled states have decided to jointly move to the Supreme Court to seek the deferment of the exams.

While the NEET is scheduled to be held on September 13, the JEE Main is scheduled from September 1 to 6 with the JEE Advanced scheduled later in the month. Around 9.53 lakh students have applied for the JEE-Mains and 15.97 lakh have registered for NEET.

The exams were postponed once due to the coronavirus induced lockdown and were originally scheduled for April 2020.