Opposition is growing to the Centre's decision to go ahead with the NEET and JEE qualifying examinations in September.
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy has now warned a decision to go ahead with the NEET and JEE would impose grave political costs on the Narendra Modi government.
Swamy drew a link between the NEET/JEE issue and a unpopular decision of the Indira Gandhi government during the Emergency from 1975 to 1977 to carry out mandatory sterilisation (Nasbandi) to lower population growth. It is estimated up to 11 million people were forcibly sterilised during the 19-month-long Emergency.
Swamy tweeted on Monday morning, "If our Modi Government goes through imposing the NEET/JEE exam now it will be the giant mistake like Nasbandi in 1976 that caused the undoing of Indira government in 1977. Indian voters may suffer silently but have long memories."
The legacy of Nasbandi saw the Congress being wiped out across electorally in north India in the elections of 1977; it was the party's first loss in a national election.
Swamy has been vocal in his opposition to conducting the NEET and JEE in September. Last week, he urged the government to consider conducting the examinations after Diwali.
On Sunday, over 4,000 students across the country observed a day-long hunger strike to demand postponement of NEET and JEE. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had demanded the Modi government must listen to the 'mann ki baat' of students and arrive at "an acceptable solution".
The LJP, an ally of the BJP, has also sought postponement of the examinations.