New Delhi [India], July 24 : Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of setting up fast-track courts for dealing with paper leak cases, terming the measure a punishment that fails to effectively deter paper leaks in the country.
Speaking to ANI, Chidambaram also described the measure as a "post-fact action", alleging that the government remains unclear on the prevention of systemic paper leaks ahead of the examinations.
"These are all post-fact actions; the government is still not clear on how it's going to prevent the systemic leaks. This fast-track court action against people who are apparently associated with the leaks is all post-fact. It does not prevent the leaks. Obviously, in the supply chain of the examination papers, there are chinks. What is the government doing to correct that? How are they strengthening that ecosystem to make sure that there are no leaks? Because there is a huge tuition and preparatory course industry, which is raking in lakhs of crores," he said.

Alleging a nexus between paper setters and coaching centres, claiming that the government has no answer to the lack of "integrity" in exams.
"They are in close nexus with those who conduct the exam. There is a financial incentive for them to engineer these leaks so that their preferred students, who are paying them heavy fees or perhaps a little bit more than the prescribed fees, have access to these examination papers. So these examinations are lacking integrity. The government must explain how it's going to restore integrity. Having a fast-track court is post-fact. It is a punishment. In India, we have fast-track courts for many things. Has it ever been a deterrent or anything? A fast-track court is only punishment. It is not the solution," said Congress MP Karti Chidambaram.
Following Karti Chidambaram's remarks on the PM's announcement, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari criticised the removal of Higher Education Department Secretary Vineet Joshi. Questioning the rationale behind the decision, Tiwari questioned how the political head could remain in office while the administrative head was removed from his post over the NEET-UG Paper leak.
"One thing does not make sense logically, You removed the administrative head, but how can the minister, who is the political head, continue to function in his post? When the Education Secretary was removed, how is Dharmendra Pradhan still the Education Minister? Either Prime Minister Modi's file has been suppressed, or there was some mess during the Petroleum Minister's tenure, or Prime Minister Modi's ego is so immense that he refuses to act simply because millions of people across India are demanding it. Remember, even Ravana's ego did not survive, and neither will this government's," said Pramod Tiwari.
Additionally, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's midnight video message promising stricter action against paper leaks.
Speaking to ANI, Jha questioned the purpose of Parliamentary proceedings, asking what value the House holds if actions go against the aspirations of the youth.
"... if we go against the youth and do something. What are their aspirations?... What is the meaning of the House without it? A House lacking in empathy and seriousness. Will those children, those youth, those families forgive those who have suffered such deaths?..." said Jha.
Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet approved amendments to the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, amid continuing nationwide protests over the NEET examination paper leak.
The proposed amendment Bill is likely to be taken up for consideration and passage in Parliament on Monday (July 27).
The decision comes against the backdrop of sustained protests by students and opposition parties demanding accountability, a comprehensive investigation into the paper leak, and stronger safeguards to protect the integrity of public examinations.
The protests began at Jantar Mantar on June 6 and culminated in the "Sansad Chalo" march on July 20, with demonstrators pressing for systemic reforms in the examination process.
Earlier in the day, representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) met Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh to discuss their demands related to the ongoing agitation.
Following the meeting, the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) claimed that the government had sought time till Saturday afternoon to deliberate on their demand for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
"The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon," said CJP Spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka.