Nadda Urges Opposition Not to Politicise Paper Leak Issue, Says Government Ready for Marathon Parliament Debate

New Delhi, July 2026 : Union Health Minister and Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, J.P. Nadda, on Wednesday appealed to all political parties to refrain from politicising the issue of examination paper leaks, saying the matter directly affects the future of millions of students and deserves a serious, bipartisan discussion rather than political confrontation. Accusing Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of attempting to derive political mileage from students’ concerns, Nadda asserted that the Centre is fully prepared for an extensive debate on the issue in Parliament and is willing to discuss it for as long as the Opposition desires.

Addressing a press conference amid continuing protests over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, Nadda acknowledged that the concerns raised by students and their families are genuine and require urgent attention. He described examination paper leaks as a significant challenge confronting the country’s education system and stressed that both the government and the Opposition share a collective responsibility to protect the interests of students.

“The issue raised by students, particularly paper leaks, is a genuine concern,” Nadda said. “My first appeal is that this should not be politicised or used for political gains. It is a serious issue that demands a sincere and comprehensive discussion. The future of our students should be our only priority.”

The senior BJP leader criticised Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader was more interested in extracting political advantage from the controversy than ensuring justice for affected students. According to Nadda, the Opposition should focus on constructive solutions instead of attempting to turn a sensitive issue into a political campaign.

“Getting justice for students does not appear to be Rahul Gandhi’s objective,” he said. “He is trying to derive political mileage from the issue. This matter deserves a detailed discussion, and that discussion will take place in Parliament.”

Nadda also referred to Rahul Gandhi’s recent presentation in which the Congress leader claimed that nearly 150 examination paper leaks had taken place over the past decade. Responding to the allegation, the Union Minister said the government would thoroughly investigate every claim and place verified facts before the nation instead of relying on political narratives.

“The Leader of Opposition has spoken about around 150 paper leaks. This is a matter that is under investigation. As a responsible government, we will investigate every aspect and present the truth before the people of the country,” he said.

Rejecting allegations that paper leak incidents are largely confined to BJP-ruled states, Nadda argued that such cases have occurred under governments of various political parties, including those led by the Congress and other Opposition parties. He said attempts to portray the issue through a partisan lens were both misleading and counterproductive.

He pointed out that incidents of examination paper leaks had been reported in states such as Jharkhand and Telangana, where the BJP is not in power, and added that similar cases had occurred during the tenure of previous Congress-led governments as well.

“This is not the time to divide the issue into ‘our governments’ and ‘your governments’,” Nadda said. “Paper leaks have taken place under different governments over the years. There is a long list that includes states governed by the Congress, as well as during the UPA period. We must address the problem collectively rather than engage in political blame games.”

The Union Minister further mentioned that states governed by parties such as the Congress, the DMK and the Trinamool Congress have also witnessed examination-related irregularities. According to him, the recurring nature of such incidents demonstrates that the problem extends beyond party lines and requires systemic reforms instead of political accusations.

Emphasising the Centre’s readiness for parliamentary discussion, Nadda said the government has consistently favoured an open debate on the issue and has no objection to the duration or format of the discussion. He said the Opposition is free to decide whether it wants a short-duration debate or an extended session lasting several hours.

“We have always wanted this issue to be discussed in Parliament,” he said. “Whether it is a short discussion or a long one, whether it lasts 12 hours or 18 hours, the government is ready. As Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, I have consistently maintained that we are prepared to discuss the issue for as long as the Opposition wants.”

Calling on Opposition parties to participate constructively, Nadda urged them not to “change the goalpost” by shifting the focus away from finding solutions. He said Parliament remains the most appropriate democratic forum for addressing concerns related to examination integrity, educational reforms and student welfare.

“We should think about how to solve this problem permanently,” he said. “Parliament provides the ideal platform for a comprehensive discussion. Let every aspect be debated, let the Opposition decide the duration, and let us work together to evolve a concrete policy that prevents such incidents in the future.”

Highlighting the importance of consensus, Nadda stressed that safeguarding the future of students should rise above political rivalry. He said the country’s youth represent its future, and all political parties have an equal responsibility to ensure that their careers are not jeopardised by examination irregularities.

“The children are ours, yours and the future of this nation,” he said. “It is the responsibility of both the government and the Opposition to protect that future. I urge all political parties to fulfil this responsibility and work together so that we can arrive at a lasting solution to the problem of paper leaks.”

Nadda’s remarks come amid heightened political debate over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, with protests continuing in several parts of the country and Opposition parties demanding accountability. While the government has reiterated its willingness to hold an extensive parliamentary debate on the issue, the political exchanges between the BJP and the Congress continue to intensify, making the examination controversy one of the key issues before Parliament during the ongoing session.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)