New Delhi: In his first official reaction to the paper leak issue, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government has decided to set up fast track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.
“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!” the PM said in a post Thursday on X.
The government, he said, has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.
The PM’s statement comes at a time when anger is evident among students and parents across the country regarding the NEET (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test ) exam paper leak, which led to protests at Jantar Mantar spearheaded by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP).
“Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students,” he added. “Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared”.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at the prime minister, saying that he was the “one who has harmed the future of our youth the most.” “You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system—and protected every person responsible for it,” he asserted.
Rahul went on to reiterate the three demands—resignation of the education minister, an apology from the PM to the students, and action be taken against those who assaulted the students.
At the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday, the PM had pointed out that the government had acted swiftly after reports of the paper leaks, in making arrests and holding the re-test. He had urged all parties to unite for punishing the guilty.
The PM’s comments were shared to the media through Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, who said that the government had acted immediately after reports of the paper leak, and 13 people were arrested and jailed.
Rijiju also said the PM made an appeal that those guilty should be given the strictest possible punishment, with the support of the country’s top lawyers.
The government has been in touch with the CJP representatives and on Monday in what could be termed as the first government acknowledgement of a month-long protest, Union Minister J. P. Nadda had met and urged them to end the protest.
On Wednesday too, Nadda held a press conference and reiterated the government’s stand that it is willing to have a discussion on NEET and paper leaks in Parliament.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had issued a statement pointing out that the Parliament is the right forum to address such issues. The opposition has been critical of the Modi government. Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and others had even protested outside the residence of the PM demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
This is an updated version of the article
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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Pradhan is the culprit. Why can’t this government take a shred of accountability?
If Shri Rahul Gandhi’s figures are accurate, there have been Zero convictions over the last decade. 2. For something of this nature, instead of placing faith in a clogged, over burdened judiciary, better to devise a foolproof system where 152 leaks do not take place.