Centre must apologise to youth over lathi charges, says Hooda after Pradhan's exit
Synopsis
The resignation of the Union Education Minister has not quieted the Opposition. Bhupinder Hooda is demanding a formal government apology for lathi charges on students, citing 7.5 crore affected exam candidates, 152 paper leaks nationwide, and 26 suicides linked to the NEET leak alone — framing this as a generational accountability moment.
Key Takeaways
Bhupinder Hooda demanded a formal apology from the Union government to India's youth for lathi charges during paper leak protests.
Hooda alleged approximately 7.5 crore candidates have been affected by paper leaks under the BJP government.
Over 152 paper leaks have reportedly occurred across the country, with an organised exam paper racket allegedly operating nationwide.
26 candidates have reportedly died by suicide due to distress caused by the NEET paper leak alone.
Haryana has seen more than 30 paper leak incidents during the BJP's tenure, including in Civil Services, CET, and Sub-Inspector recruitment exams.
The Congress has committed to raising paper leak accountability inside Parliament , building on its 'Chhatron ki Goonj' campaign.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Hooda on Saturday, 25 July demanded a formal apology from the Union government to the country's youth, saying the resignation of the Union Education Minister amounted to a victory for students who faced lathi charges and state brutality during their protests against recurring paper leaks.
Hooda's Core Demand
Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Hooda said the government's response to student protests had been unconscionable. 'The government must apologise to the youth, the country's future, whom it subjected to lathi-charges and brutality. Furthermore, the examination system must be made transparent enough to eliminate any possibility of future paper leaks,' he said.
Hooda, who serves as Leader of the Opposition in Haryana, credited the Congress-led 'Chhatron ki Goonj' (Voice of Students) campaign — launched under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi — with forcing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government to yield to the mass movement. He said the Congress would now press for accountability on paper leaks inside Parliament.
Scale of the Paper Leak Crisis
Hooda cited figures that underscore what he described as an epidemic. According to him, approximately 7.5 crore candidates have been affected by recurring paper leaks under the BJP government. He further alleged that over 152 paper leaks have occurred across the country, with an organised racket trading in exam papers and jobs operating nationwide.
The human cost, he argued, has been severe: 26 candidates across the country have reportedly died by suicide, distressed specifically by the NEET paper leak alone.
Haryana Cited as a Hub
Hooda singled out Haryana as a particular flashpoint, alleging more than 30 paper leak incidents during the BJP government's tenure in the state. Among the cases he cited: Haryana Civil Services (2023), CET (2023), Sub-Inspector recruitment (March 2022), Dental Surgeons (December 2021), PGI Rohtak exam (2025), Police Constable recruitment (August 2021), Gram Sachiv recruitment (12 January 2021), and Clerk recruitment (December 2016).
The Unemployment Backdrop
Hooda also contextualised the crisis within a broader employment crunch. He alleged that the paper leak problem extends beyond competitive examinations to recruitment exams as well, and pointed to a structural imbalance: 9 crore young people apply annually for just 6 lakh jobs. This, he argued, makes examination integrity not merely an administrative matter but a question of generational fairness.
What Comes Next
With the Congress committing to raise the issue in Parliament, the paper leak crisis is set to become a sustained legislative flashpoint. Hooda's remarks signal that the Opposition intends to convert the street-level student movement into structured parliamentary accountability — demanding both an apology and systemic reform of India's examination infrastructure.
Point of View
Yet no government — at Centre or state — has been held criminally accountable at the institutional level. The 9-crore-applicants-for-6-lakh-jobs figure is the real crisis underneath the exam scandal; paper leak outrage is a symptom of a labour market that cannot absorb its own youth. Congress's pivot from street campaign to parliamentary accountability is the right move, but it will need more than speeches — it will need a legislative proposal for an independent examination regulator with prosecutorial teeth.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Bhupinder Hooda demanding an apology from the Centre?
Hooda is demanding that the Union government formally apologise to India's youth for subjecting student protesters to lathi charges and brutality during demonstrations against paper leaks. He made the demand on 25 July in Chandigarh, following the resignation of the Union Education Minister, which he called a victory for the student movement.
How many candidates have been affected by paper leaks, according to Hooda?
Hooda alleged that approximately 7.5 crore candidates have been affected by recurring paper leaks under the BJP government. He also cited over 152 paper leak incidents across the country and claimed 26 candidates have died by suicide due to distress caused by the NEET paper leak alone.
What is the 'Chhatron ki Goonj' campaign?
'Chhatron ki Goonj', meaning Voice of Students, is a nationwide campaign launched by the Congress under Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to highlight the paper leak crisis and demand accountability. Hooda credited the campaign with pressuring the BJP government into conceding to student demands.
How many paper leaks have occurred in Haryana under the BJP government?
Hooda alleged over 30 paper leak incidents in Haryana during the BJP's tenure. Prominent cases include the Haryana Civil Services (2023), CET (2023), Sub-Inspector recruitment (March 2022), and PGI Rohtak exam (2025), among others.
What will the Congress do next on the paper leak issue?
The Congress has committed to raising paper leak accountability inside Parliament, converting the street-level student movement into formal legislative pressure. Hooda also demanded that the examination system be made transparent enough to eliminate the possibility of future paper leaks.
