Education – Parliament Witnesses Fresh Face-Off Over Exam Paper Leak Controversy
Education –Parliament witnessed another day of political confrontation on Thursday as the controversy surrounding alleged examination paper leaks continued to dominate both the political landscape and public discourse. Opposition parties renewed their demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, while demonstrations by students and activists continued in the national capital. The issue has emerged as one of the most debated subjects during the ongoing Monsoon Session, with both the government and the Opposition sharpening their positions.
Opposition Renews Pressure Inside Parliament
Leaders from several Opposition parties gathered near the Makar Dwar within the Parliament complex to protest against the Union government over the examination paper leak issue. Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined fellow Opposition Members of Parliament during the demonstration, reinforcing the alliance’s demand that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan be removed from office.
Opposition leaders argued that repeated examination irregularities have affected the confidence of students and demanded greater accountability from the government. The protest added to the tense atmosphere that has repeatedly disrupted parliamentary proceedings in recent days.
NDA Holds Counter Demonstration
At the same time, Members of Parliament belonging to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) organised a separate protest targeting Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee. The ruling alliance criticised Banerjee over remarks made against two women MPs, which led to his suspension from the House.
The parallel demonstrations highlighted the deep political divisions during the current Parliament session, with both sides accusing each other of diverting attention from key issues.
Prime Minister Announces Fast-Track Courts
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the examination paper leak controversy through a post on social media. Stressing that the future of students is a national priority, he announced that fast-track courts would be established to ensure speedy trials and strict punishment for those involved in paper leak cases.
The Prime Minister stated that authorities had been instructed to take every necessary step to safeguard the interests of students. He also asserted that individuals responsible for compromising the future of young people would face firm legal action.
Rahul Gandhi Targets the Government
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi responded strongly to the Prime Minister’s statement, maintaining that the Centre had failed to protect the integrity of the country’s education system. In a post on X, Gandhi alleged that the government had allowed serious institutional failures to develop and had failed to act against those responsible.
He repeated the Opposition’s demand for the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and said students deserved an official apology over the examination controversy.
Congress Leaders Intensify Criticism
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also criticised the Prime Minister, claiming that he should address the issue directly in Parliament instead of responding through social media. Ramesh argued that the government should participate in a detailed parliamentary debate on concerns being raised by students and Opposition parties.
According to Congress leaders, the examination paper leak issue requires greater transparency, stronger accountability, and a comprehensive discussion within Parliament.
Student Protests Continue in Delhi
Outside Parliament, demonstrations continued at Tolstoy Marg and Janpath as students and activists demanded action against those responsible for examination irregularities. Protesters raised slogans against the BJP, the RSS, and the Delhi Police while calling for reforms in the examination system.
The protests briefly disrupted traffic after some demonstrators attempted to block roads. Police personnel remained deployed in the area to manage the situation and restore normal movement.
One protester from Bihar said he had been participating in the demonstrations in Delhi for nearly a month and intended to continue attending protests at Jantar Mantar until their demands were addressed. He maintained that accountability for the alleged paper leak was essential and reiterated the call for the Education Minister’s resignation.
Debate Expected to Continue
With the paper leak controversy remaining at the centre of national attention, the issue is expected to continue influencing parliamentary proceedings in the coming days. Both the government and the Opposition appear determined to maintain pressure on the matter, suggesting that further debates and political confrontations are likely as the session progresses.