Swedish Environmental activist Greta Thunberg sparked a massive controversy after she ‘voiced concerns’ over India conducting various central examinations including JEE and NEET amid the global pandemic.
She took to Twitter to voice her opinion and called conducting JEE and NEET in India ‘unfair to students’.
It’s deeply unfair that students of India are asked to sit national exams during the Covid-19 pandemic and while millions have also been impacted by the extreme floods. I stand with their call to #PostponeJEE_NEETinCOVID
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) August 25, 2020
Her criticism at a time when Greta Thunberg herself has returned to school after a year long break for her ‘fight against climate change’.
Thunberg has now come out in support of students, against the proposal of conducting the examinations.
Several politicians including Mamata Banerjee, Naveen Patnaik, Subramanian Swamy, Aaditya Thackeray have backed many students and have opposed the idea of conducting the exam amid the pandemic.
The Supreme court ruled that the exams will be conducted as per schedule. The exams are scheduled for September.
Remember, on August 23, over 4,000 students observed a day-long hunger strike to press for the demand in view of rising COVID-19 cases.
Many students on Twitter supported Greta’s call to stand with the students and called the outrage ‘global’.
Thank you @GretaThunberg for your support. #MODIJI_POSTPONEJEENEET
— Hansraj Meena (@HansrajMeena) August 25, 2020
Global community is raising our voice!
— Snehanjali Panigrahy (@Snehu_0429) August 25, 2020
We're grateful to you even more than any word can express!! 🙏#MODIJI_POSTPONEJEENEET
On the other hand, some users chose the slam the teenager for her ‘selective activism’
Not all of these students can afford the jet-hopping, yacht-sailing, big bucks funded lifestyle that you have, Greta.
— Deepti (@MeDamselDee) August 25, 2020
They'll need to get day jobs, slog their backsides off and perhaps worry about the environment in the little, doable ways they can implement changes.
Not all of these students can afford the jet-hopping, yacht-sailing, big bucks funded lifestyle that you have, Greta.
— Deepti (@MeDamselDee) August 25, 2020
They'll need to get day jobs, slog their backsides off and perhaps worry about the environment in the little, doable ways they can implement changes.
Why is Greta Thunberg interested in this matter? Makes one think Who all are behind this Postpone Exams ?? What is their actual Agenda?? Are students being used as Pawns for a nefarious political agenda?? 🤔🤔 #GretaThunberg
— Rosy (@rose_k01) August 25, 2020
You take care of your education, because soon you will have problems with passing the exams yourself, my dear child.
— Twarze (@Maminsynek) August 25, 2020
Despite the opposition, many students are also in favour of conducting the exams in September without any further postponement.
Earlier this month, a group of parents and students launched an online signature petition to ensure no further postponement of the UG entrance examinations for engineering and medical students.