Akhilesh Yadav Targets Centre During Anti-Paper Leak Bill Debate, Says Student Movement Forced Government to Bend

New Delhi, July 2026 : Samajwadi Party (SP) President Akhilesh Yadav launched a sharp attack on the Central government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, claiming that the nationwide student movement against examination irregularities had compelled the government to accept several key demands. Participating in the debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister argued that the agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak had demonstrated the power of young people to influence public policy and hold governments accountable.

Addressing the House, Akhilesh Yadav said the government’s initial response to the protests was marked by arrogance, but sustained public pressure eventually forced it to make significant concessions. Referring to a slogan that emerged during the protests, he remarked that the youth had shown they understood how to make governments respond.

“We were watching the protests. The government believed it would never bow before public pressure. But after the movement succeeded, young people coined the slogan, ‘Sarkaar jhukti hai, jhukane wala chahiye’ (The government yields; it just takes someone to make it yield). Today’s generation knows how to make the government bow,” he said.

The SP chief claimed that the Centre had eventually accepted several demands raised by the student protesters, including the resignation of the then Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. However, he questioned why the government had not formally informed Parliament about the commitments it had made during the negotiations with student representatives.

“The government had to bow down, and it agreed to the Minister’s resignation. It accepted several demands of the protesters, but we do not know why these decisions are not being placed before the House,” he said.

Taking a swipe at the ruling BJP, Akhilesh Yadav also commented on the reception accorded to Dharmendra Pradhan in Parliament after his resignation. While clarifying that the Samajwadi Party had no objection to colleagues welcoming the former minister, he suggested that the resignation had served as a political diversion.

“They removed a Pradhan to save the Pradhan Mantri,” he quipped, drawing laughter from Opposition benches.

Congratulating the country’s younger generation, especially Gen Z students who spearheaded the protests, Akhilesh Yadav said their unity and determination had succeeded where, according to him, the government’s extensive political campaigns had failed.

“Who knows how many crores were spent on negative politics? But I want to congratulate the new generation. Their morale, unity and campaign compelled the government to bow before them,” he said, expressing hope that all the remaining demands of the protesting students would also be fulfilled.

The Samajwadi Party leader also referred to the role of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which led much of the student mobilisation. He remarked that what initially appeared to be a satirical campaign eventually transformed into a serious nationwide movement that forced the government to permit demonstrations.

“The movement began almost like a joke, but it became so powerful that the government was compelled to become democratic and allow protesters to stage dharnas,” he observed.

Drawing comparisons with the farmers’ agitation against the three farm laws, Akhilesh Yadav argued that governments generally respond to public demands only when faced with sustained and organised resistance.

“There were times when people were not even allowed to protest. Farmers surrounded Delhi for months, but their voices were ignored. Only when elections approached did the government withdraw the three farm laws. Governments accept demands only when they become afraid of the people,” he said.

Repeating the now-popular slogan, he added, “The government yields; it just takes someone to make it yield.”

Questioning the need for fresh amendments to the anti-paper leak law, Akhilesh Yadav asked why the government had been forced to introduce another Bill when the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act had already been enacted in 2024.

“If a law already existed, why are we discussing another amendment in 2026? Why did examination papers continue to leak despite the law?” he asked.

The Kannauj MP stressed that the controversy was not limited to a single examination but had affected millions of families across the country. Referring to the alleged NEET paper leak, he said nearly 20 lakh students appeared for the examination, meaning the issue indirectly impacted crores of parents and family members.

“This was not just about students. Parents came out on the streets for the first time in such large numbers. If 20 lakh students appeared for the examination, then their parents, grandparents and family members were equally affected. Nearly five crore people felt the impact,” he said.

Seeking a clarification from the government, Akhilesh Yadav said that if his assessment was incorrect, the Home Minister should personally address the House.

“If I am wrong, let the Home Minister come here and clarify the facts,” he challenged.

The SP President also criticised the government’s ability to prevent examination fraud by drawing a parallel with reports of alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple.

“How can those who could not even protect temple donations stop examination paper leaks?” he asked.

He further pointed out that incidents of paper leaks had allegedly occurred even in Uttar Pradesh, politically one of the BJP’s strongest states.

“A large state like Uttar Pradesh, from where the Prime Minister gets elected, has also witnessed repeated paper leaks. This shows the problem is widespread,” he said.

Akhilesh Yadav also questioned the functioning of the National Testing Agency (NTA), expressing concern over the outsourcing of several examination-related responsibilities. He argued that institutions entrusted with conducting national-level examinations should remain fully accountable to the public.

“I hope the government has not mistaken ‘accountability’ for the ability to fill accounts,” he remarked in a sarcastic reference to outsourcing.

“The Opposition fears that one day the entire government may be outsourced. Even the institutions that should inspire the highest public trust are being handed over to private agencies,” he alleged.

The SP chief also broadened his criticism by accusing the BJP government of neglecting public education. He claimed that more than one lakh primary schools had been shut across the country, including around 26,300 in Uttar Pradesh, and questioned why examination papers for Classes 10 and 12 continued to be leaked despite existing legal safeguards.

Concluding his speech, Akhilesh Yadav compared the police action against students during the recent protests in Delhi with the Emergency era. Referring to the use of tear gas and police force against demonstrators, he alleged that the government’s handling of peaceful protests reflected an atmosphere of suppression.

“I have never personally seen the Emergency, but what happened in Delhi during the recent student protests reminded many people of that period. The use of force against students seeking justice was deeply disturbing,” he said.

The debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, continued in the Lok Sabha with members from both the Treasury and Opposition benches expressing their views on the government’s proposed measures to curb paper leaks, tighten penalties and restore confidence in India’s examination system.