Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed that preventing examination paper leaks is a national responsibility and called for the toughest possible action against those found guilty of such offences.
Speaking after the National Defence Academy (NDA) Parliamentary Party’s ‘Mangal Milan’ meeting on Tuesday, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju quoted the Prime Minister as saying that the country must work together to establish a secure and reliable examination system, reports NDTV.
“The PM called on NDA partners to remain united in supporting legislative business and appealed to opposition parties to work constructively in parliament, saying that while political differences may exist, all MPs have a shared responsibility to work for the country’s future and the welfare of its youth,” Rijiju said quoting the Prime Minister.
His remarks came a day after police used tear gas and baton charges to stop hundreds of demonstrators from marching towards parliament.
The protesters, led by the satirical Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), were demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations, including the NEET (National Eligibility Entrance Test) paper leak.
The CJP was formed in May after the chief Justice of the supreme court compared some unemployed young people to “cockroaches” during an unrelated court hearing.
NEET is one of the country’s most competitive exams, attracting more than two million aspiring doctors.
The exam held in May was cancelled after allegations that its question paper had been leaked before the test. A fresh examination was conducted late last month.
The controversy followed another dispute involving the online evaluation system used for examinations taken by nearly two million CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) high school students.
Several candidates alleged that they received incorrect grades or that their results were assigned to other students.
According to Rijiju, Modi said the government responded immediately after reports of the NEET paper leak surfaced, resulting in arrests and prompt action against those allegedly involved.
Rijiju added that Modi highlighted that the re-examination was organised without delay to protect the academic future of affected students.
The protests intensified after activist Sonam Wangchuk was taken to hospital on Saturday, ending his 21-day hunger strike in support of the CJP-led movement.
On Monday, Wangchuk announced that he would continue his hunger strike from hospital after witnessing the “brutality with which peacefully protesting students are being dealt with”.
In his public remarks before the opening of the Monsoon Session of parliament on Monday, Modi did not refer to the demonstrations.
The CJP later said two of its leaders met Union Minister JP Nadda and handed over a letter outlining their demands after the government contacted them earlier in the day.
Nadda confirmed the meeting, describing it as taking place in a “cordial atmosphere”, while stating that the proposal for the discussion had come from the protesters.
On the opening day of the Monsoon Session, proceedings in both Houses of parliament were disrupted as opposition members protested over the alleged NEET paper leak and the Ram temple donation theft issue.
