New Delhi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday announced that the government will introduce a Bill in Parliament next week to provide for stringent action against question paper leaks. However, he did not address the growing demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
In a video message, Modi said the proposed legislation would first be discussed at the Union Cabinet meeting on Friday before being finalised.
"The cabinet will discuss the issue of paper leaks on Friday, and taking suggestions of the cabinet colleagues, further action would be finalised. On Monday, when the second week of the Monsoon session of Parliament will begin, a bill will be brought with provisions for strong action against paper leaks and we will try to pass it as early as possible," he said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for sidestepping the issue of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation in his video message.
In a post on X, Gandhi said the prime minister should not insult the intelligence of students.
"Mr Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Don't insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video. 1. Sack Pradhan. 2. Punish those who beat students. 3. Apologise," the leader of opposition said in his post.
In the video, the prime minister said he knows that paper leaks are not a small issue and for lakhs of students and their guardians, such incidents are extremely painful.
Therefore, since allegations of NEET paper leak surfaced about two-and-a-half months ago, several strong steps have been taken, he added.
"The guilty have been caught. They are now in jail. Our most significant responsibility was to ensure that the students do not lose a year. It was necessary to hold the examination immediately. By using all resources, the government has ensured that 22 lakhs students could attend the retest," he said.
Modi said the results of the medical-entrance re-test were declared on July 19 and from across India, there have been reports of happiness from those who were successful.
The prime minister said he is not among those who would be satisfied with this.
"That is why I have given directions to the authorities concerned to set up fast-track courts. The fast-track courts have already been established," he said.
