"Cancel Class 10, 12 Board Exams": Priyanka Gandhi Vadra To Centre

Ms Gandhi Vadra spoke out on Friday too - a day after the CBSE said it would take "adequate safety arrangements" - and said holding the exams was "downright irresponsible"

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has urged Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal to re-think holding board exams for Class 10 and 12 CBSE school students as the number of daily new Covid cases in the country - over 1.5 lakh were reported this morning - continues to climb. देश भर में कोरोना के बढ़ते मामलों एवं भयावह होती स्थिति के बीच छात्रों व उनके अभिवावकों ने सीबीएसई बोर्ड परीक्षा 2021 को लेकर कुछ वाजिब चिंताएं जाहिर की हैं।My letter to minister of education Shri @DrRPNishank to reconsider conducting CBSE exams under prevailing Covid scenario. pic.twitter.com/5l60RN5wGS Ms Gandhi Vadra, who is self-isolating at her Delhi home after her husband, Robert Vadra, tested positive for coronavirus, wrote to Mr Pokhriyal to underline the "fears and apprehensions... of lakhs of children and parents from all over India", and pointed out the contradiction in warning adults against congregating in large numbers while children would have to do the same. "... practically impossible to ensure the safety of students... it is not just the students who will be at risk but also their teachers, invigilators and family members... as state after state issues guidelines preventing the assembly of large numbers of people in public places, what moral ground can we stand on while forcing children to do exactly that..." Ms Gandhi Vadra said in her letter. "Aside from this (the risk of the virus spreading), by forcing children to sit for these exams during a raging pandemic, the government and the CBSE board will be held responsible in the event any exam centre proves to be a (Covid) hotspot... might want to consider whether they are prepared to own legal liability for students and others who might be severely afflicted..." she wrote.