New Delhi : In a major outreach to students amid ongoing protests over exam paper leaks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the Centre will establish fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials and stringent punishment for those involved in leaking examination papers. The announcement comes a day after Rahul Gandhi alleged that there had been 152 paper leak cases over the past decade without a single conviction, accusing the government of allowing the education system to deteriorate.
With the government facing criticism over the police crackdown on student protesters during their march to Parliament on July 20, PM Modi stressed that safeguarding students’ interests remains a top priority. He warned that anyone attempting to compromise the future of young people would face strict legal action. “We have decided to establish fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. I have directed the concerned authorities to take all necessary steps,” the Prime Minister posted on X.
The Prime Minister had also raised the issue during the NDA parliamentary meeting on Wednesday, describing the alleged NEET-UG paper leak as a “ghor paap” (grave sin) and noting that authorities had acted quickly against those responsible. According to the government, 13 people have been arrested so far in connection with the case. Rahul Gandhi responded within minutes, accusing PM Modi of being responsible for weakening India’s education system.
Reiterating the students’ demands, the Leader of the Opposition called for the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and demanded an apology for the police action against protesters. “The students’ demands are clear—remove Dharmendra Pradhan, apologise to the students, and take action against those who assaulted them,” Rahul said. A day earlier, Rahul Gandhi had described India’s education system as “rigged”, claiming there had been 152 paper leak cases in the last 10 years with zero convictions, averaging nearly one leak every month.
