Centre Defends Paper Leak Reforms, Accuses Opposition of Politicising Students’ Concerns

New Delhi, July 2026 : Union Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday welcomed the government’s decision to establish fast-track courts for cases related to examination paper leaks, asserting that the move reflects the Centre’s commitment to protecting students’ interests and ensuring swift justice. At the same time, he accused Opposition parties of attempting to exploit the issue for political mileage instead of focusing on the welfare of students.

Addressing the media, Chouhan said the Union government was taking concrete steps to strengthen the examination system and hold those responsible for paper leaks accountable. He alleged that while the government was working to safeguard the future of millions of students, the Opposition was more interested in creating political controversy than finding lasting solutions.

“The Opposition is trying to project itself as the champion of students, but its real objective is political gain. Instead of supporting reforms and ensuring justice for students, they are using the issue to score political points,” Chouhan said.

The Minister also criticised the Opposition for disrupting proceedings in Parliament, claiming that the government had repeatedly expressed its willingness to hold a detailed discussion on issues affecting students and youth. According to him, Opposition parties continued to shift their demands and change their stand, preventing meaningful debate inside the House.

He maintained that Parliament was the appropriate platform to discuss reforms related to education and examination transparency, but alleged that the Opposition preferred confrontation over constructive dialogue.

Several BJP Members of Parliament echoed Chouhan’s criticism, accusing the INDIA bloc of adopting disruptive tactics while avoiding a substantive debate that would expose its own record on examination-related issues.

Former Union Minister and BJP MP Anurag Thakur said the Centre had acted swiftly to plug loopholes in the examination system by introducing structural reforms aimed at making recruitment and competitive examinations more transparent, secure and credible.

Highlighting the government’s latest initiatives, Thakur said the decision to establish fast-track courts for paper leak cases would ensure quicker investigations and speedier punishment for those involved in organised examination fraud.

“The government has taken decisive steps keeping the interests of the country’s youth in mind. Fast-track courts will ensure strict action against those who have exploited the examination system for years,” he said.

Questioning the Opposition’s approach, Thakur asked whether the Congress genuinely wanted those responsible for paper leaks to be punished.

“Doesn’t the Congress want the guilty to face justice? Doesn’t it want students to receive justice? What exactly does the Congress want?” he remarked.

BJP MP Jagdambika Pal also accused Opposition parties of deliberately preventing parliamentary discussions on the issue despite the government’s readiness to debate it.

“The government has repeatedly expressed its willingness to discuss paper leaks in Parliament, but the Opposition continues to create disruptions. They prefer protests on the streets while avoiding discussions inside the House. This clearly shows that confrontation, not solutions, is their priority,” Pal said.

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya emphasised that the government recognised the seriousness of the issue and remained committed to comprehensive reforms in the education sector.

“The government’s position is absolutely clear. We stand firmly with students and fully understand their legitimate concerns. We are committed to undertaking comprehensive and long-term reforms to strengthen the education system,” Surya said.

He pointed out that examination paper leaks were not a recent phenomenon and had occurred over several years at both state and central levels, affecting the aspirations of countless students across the country.

“This is not about the leak of a single examination paper. Paper leaks have occurred at different levels for many years. It is an extremely serious issue because education remains the most important avenue for millions of young Indians to improve their social and economic prospects,” he added.

The BJP leaders maintained that the Centre’s reforms, including stricter laws, enhanced examination security mechanisms and the establishment of fast-track courts, were intended to restore public confidence in the examination system and ensure that deserving students receive fair opportunities based on merit.

The government’s remarks came amid continuing political confrontation over the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, with both the ruling alliance and the Opposition accusing each other of failing to protect students’ interests while Parliament remained disrupted over demands for a wider debate on the issue.