West Bengal's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camp on Thursday, 23 July issued a sharp warning that any attempt to foment unrest in the state under the cover of NEET question leak protests will not be tolerated. State Commerce and Industries Minister Tapas Roy said the police and administration are on full alert, even as the BJP launched a nationwide counter-campaign against the agitation.

Key Developments

The warning came as preparations gathered pace for a protest march in Kolkata on Friday. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) student wing, the Students' Federation of India (SFI), announced a procession in the city and called for a nationwide student strike. Organisers reportedly emailed Kolkata Police seeking permission for the Friday programme.

In Delhi, protests over the NEET question leak, demands for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and allegations of corruption in the education sector have continued to gain traction. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was on the 26th day of his hunger strike as of Thursday. A round of talks between protest representatives and the government yielded no resolution.

What the Government Said

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the question paper leak issue on Thursday, stating that a fast-track court will be constituted to ensure punishment of those found guilty.

Minister Tapas Roy said, 'I have never seen such strict steps taken by the Indian Government after the question leak scandal. Despite this, attempts are being made to create unrest. The same situation that was created in some other places in South Asia is being tried here too. Money is flowing in from abroad. If any such incident is attempted in West Bengal, we will not allow it to happen. The police and administration are alert.'

Roy also drew a budget comparison, noting that education spending under the current government stands at ₹1 lakh 39 thousand crore, against ₹8,200 crore during the UPA government's tenure — a figure he used to argue that the Centre is investing heavily in the sector.

BJP's Broader Counter-Campaign

At a press conference, BJP chief spokesperson Debjit Sarkar, media cell convener Bimal Shankar Nanda, and Yuva Morcha state general secretary Ashish Biswas joined Roy. The BJP acknowledged what it called the government's 'deviation' on the question leak but maintained that strict corrective steps have since been taken. Sarkar added that the NEET exam itself has no connection to the broader Delhi protest movement, pushing back against allegations of an anti-national conspiracy.

The party also broadened the conversation beyond NEET, calling for a discussion on question leaks that occurred under both Congress and BJP regimes — a move critics may read as an attempt to dilute accountability.

What Happens Next

Roy struck a measured note on the right to peaceful dissent: 'Anyone can hold a peaceful protest if they want. But if there is an attempt to create unrest from there, the Government will do whatever it takes.' With the SFI procession scheduled for Friday and the Delhi agitation showing no signs of abating, the situation in Bengal remains fluid. The formation of a fast-track court, as announced by the Prime Minister, is expected to be the Centre's next concrete step in addressing the NEET controversy.