Last Updated on July 23, 2026 5:05 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
Political Bureau / New Delhi
The controversy over alleged paper leaks and examination irregularities has triggered protests by students and opposition parties in several parts of the country. Opposition leaders have accused the Centre of failing to safeguard the integrity of competitive examinations and of using excessive force against student protesters.
The BJP-led government has maintained that it is committed to protecting the interests of students and has pledged stringent action against those responsible for examination fraud, including the establishment of fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials in paper leak cases.
The political confrontation over alleged examination paper leaks and the recent police action against protesting students intensified on Thursday, with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of inflicting the greatest damage on the future of India’s youth.
The sharp exchange came after Prime Minister Modi, responding for the first time to the nationwide controversy surrounding competitive examination irregularities, said that the welfare and interests of the country’s youth were the government’s highest priority and that those who played with their future would not be spared. He also announced that fast-track courts would be established to ensure swift punishment for those involved in paper leak cases.
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s statement, Rahul Gandhi said the government had failed to protect the integrity of the country’s education system and instead allowed it to deteriorate.
In a post on social media platform X, Rahul Gandhi alleged that Prime Minister Modi had done “the greatest damage” to the future of young people by allowing the education system to be undermined and by shielding those responsible.
“The greatest damage to our youth’s future has been caused by you,” Rahul Gandhi wrote, alleging that the government had taken complete control of the education system, allowed it to deteriorate and protected those responsible for its failures.
The Congress leader reiterated three key demands raised by protesting students:
Removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan from office.
A public apology to students.
Action against those responsible for the alleged violence against student protesters.
Congress Says PM Is Under Pressure
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that the Prime Minister’s social media post reflected growing public pressure over the issue.
He alleged that the Prime Minister had avoided participating in a detailed parliamentary debate on the matter and instead attempted to address the controversy through a social media message.
“The post itself shows that the Prime Minister is under pressure and deeply unsettled,” Ramesh said, accusing the government of failing to answer questions raised by students and the Opposition.
Kharge Calls for Accountability
Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge dismissed the government’s announcement of fast-track courts as inadequate.
He alleged that the education system had deteriorated during the Modi government’s tenure and said the country needed concrete reforms rather than what he described as “hollow assurances” and piecemeal announcements.
Kharge urged the Prime Minister to engage directly with students affected by examination controversies and address their concerns.
Samajwadi Party Also Criticises Government
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav also criticised the government’s handling of the issue.
Questioning the effectiveness of action taken so far, he asked how many people involved in paper leak cases had actually been punished. Referring to recent student protests, he said the demonstrators were genuine students seeking answers from the government and questioned the alleged use of force against them, including the role of individuals in plain clothes seen during the police action.