New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, accusing the government of causing the greatest damage to the future of the country’s youth by allowing the education system to deteriorate.
Responding to the Prime Minister’s announcement of fast track courts for paper leak cases, Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Centre had failed to protect the integrity of the education system and had shielded those responsible for its decline. He claimed that the government had encouraged the complete capture and destruction of the country’s education framework.
The Congress leader also reiterated the demands raised by protesting students, calling for the removal of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. He urged the government to apologise to students and take action against those accused of using force against demonstrators during the protests.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi announced the establishment of fast track courts to ensure speedy trials and stringent punishment for those involved in examination paper leak cases. He said the welfare and future of the country’s youth remained the government’s highest priority and assured that those attempting to jeopardise students’ futures would face strict action.
The Prime Minister had earlier described examination paper leaks as a “grave sin” and stressed the need for the toughest possible punishment for those responsible while calling for stronger measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The political exchange comes amid continuing protests in Delhi over the alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leak. Students from across the country, along with members of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), have been demonstrating at Jantar Mantar and other parts of central Delhi, demanding accountability for repeated examination irregularities and the resignation of the Education Minister.
The protests intensified after police stopped demonstrators from marching towards Parliament earlier this week. The confrontation led to clashes, detentions and injuries, with Delhi Police and protest organisers presenting conflicting accounts of the violence. Police said several personnel and protesters were injured during the unrest, while the organisers alleged that excessive force, including lathi charges and tear gas, was used against peaceful demonstrators.
