Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday spoke to the family of a NEET aspirant from Madhya Pradesh who died by suicide last year and offered his condolences.
According to media reports, the student had expressed concerns about her future amid the controversy surrounding the NEET examination. Reports said she left behind a letter describing her ambition to become a doctor and her worries about the financial burden of her education on her family.
A video of Gandhi’s conversation with the family later appeared on social media.
“I read your daughter’s letter while travelling to the airport today. It made me very sad. If there is any way I can help, please let me know,” Gandhi said.
The student’s mother thanked Gandhi for his concern but said the family’s loss could never be replaced.
“What has gone is not going to come back. You are already working for the country,” she said.
According to the family’s account, the student worked hard to secure admission to a medical college. Her mother said she had been deeply affected by developments related to the examination.
“The biggest pain is that she worked so hard. She was our only support,” the mother said.
Gandhi said the reported letter suggested the student felt burdened by the sacrifices her family had made for her education, including loans taken to support her studies.
The family also told Gandhi about its financial and medical difficulties. The student’s mother said her husband suffers from serious health complications and partial paralysis after undergoing several medical procedures.
Gandhi told the family it could approach members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) if it needed assistance.
During the conversation, a family member said the family had received financial assistance of Rs 2.5 lakh and expected an additional Rs 50,000, according to media reports.
The circumstances surrounding the student’s death and the contents of the reported letter could not be independently verified. Authorities have not publicly linked her death to the NEET examination controversy.
