Fast-track courts to ensure strict punishment in exam leak cases: Modi

Faced with continued street protests by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) over exam paper leaks, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (23 July) said his government has decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in such cases.

In a post on his X handle, Modi said the welfare and interest of the country's youth is the top priority of the government, and anyone trying to harm their future will not be spared.

"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared," he said.

He said he has directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps on the issue of paper leaks. "This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students."

Lok Sabha's Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, taking to social media today, accused Modi of allowing and encouraging "the total capture and destruction of India's education system and protecting "every person responsible for it".

"You are 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," Rahul said addressing the prime minister.

Congress MP KC Venugopal, in a separate X post, reacted sharply to Modi's remarks and said, "Complete eyewash. Mr. Modi is living in a fool's paradise if he thinks the youth will settle for this. Their demands remain clear: (Education Minister) Dharmendra Pradhan must resign. ⁠PM Modi must apologise. Punishment for the assaulters who attacked peaceful protesters."

Proceedings in Indian parliament, whose monsoon session began on Monday, have largely remained paralysed in the face of opposition protests over the paper leaks issue.

BJP President Nitin Nabin said the government is ready for discussions at every level on issues concerning students and the future of the youth and accused Rahul Gandhi and the entire opposition of running away from a discussion.

"They are running away from discussion because they know that if the matter is debated in parliament, their double standards will be exposed before the people and the youth," he said.

Reacting to Modi's comments on X today, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that "it is like a child telling his father that he wants to become a designer and the father replying 'don't worry, I have got you admission into an engineering college'."

"The problem is that the child is saying one thing while you are saying something else. This is the time to show leadership. First, listen to what the students are saying. Their demands are clear, Dharmendra Pradhan should resign, action should be taken against those who assaulted the students and their other demands should be addressed," she said.

Priyanka alleged that "students have lost faith in the system. If the same system offers a solution without addressing their concerns, they will not accept it. It is a simple thing that every parent understands."

"Dharmendra Pradhan istifa do (resign)," opposition MPs raised slogans in chorus during a protest inside the parliament complex this morning ahead of the day's session.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress MPs Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav joined the protest.