The Congress on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement on setting up fast-track courts to punish those involved in paper leaks was "too little, too late and too deceptive", alleging that the government had covered up and enabled such incidents over the past 12 years.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the students demand genuine accountability for the Modi government's failure to prevent paper leaks, its unwillingness to acknowledge them when they happen, and its inability to investigate them with fairness.
"The demands are clear: 1. Sack Mantri Pradhan. 2. Apologise to the students. 3. Take action against those who assaulted them," Ramesh said on X.
"The Pradhan Mantri's announcement of fast-track courts to punish those involved in paper leaks is too little, too late, and too deceptive," he said.
The PM must first grapple with the truth of how it has covered up and enabled paper leaks in the last 12 years. The Modi government has not had the courage to even admit that paper leaks have occurred on its watch, Ramesh claimed.
"The Education Ministry has previously claimed to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education that no paper leaks have occurred by the NTA. The Pradhan Mantri and Mantri Pradhan have been shamelessly lying to the people and to the Parliament rather than acknowledge the truth," he said, taking a swipe at Modi and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The Modi government has consistently obscured the investigations into the NTA's paper leaks, he said.
For instance, there has been no transparency on what happened to those accused in the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak case, Ramesh said.
"All we know is that the CBI failed to file a chargesheet against the main accused Sanjeev Mukhiya on time, allowing him to be released on bail. We also know that the CBI filed a closure report stating that no irregularities occurred in the UGC-NET exam of 2024 which had been cancelled by the NTA back then. But the CBI's reason for filing this closure report is not known," he said.
Noting that Parliament had passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act in early 2024, Ramesh said the opposition, including the Congress, had pointed out even then that the law was insufficient to prevent paper leaks.
But the PM refused to heed wise counsel, he added.
The students of India cannot accept these half-measures, Ramesh said.
His remarks came after Modi said on X that nothing is more important than the welfare and future of the youth.
"We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard," Modi said.
This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students, the prime minister said.
"Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," Modi asserted.
(With inputs from PTI)