Bihar Minister Dilip Jaiswal on Friday, 24 July accused anti-national and foreign forces of hijacking activist Sonam Wangchuk's protest movement, while also asserting that the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) agitation had lost its way. Jaiswal's remarks came against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pledge to introduce sweeping legislation against examination paper leaks, with fast-track courts set to be established to prosecute those responsible.

Government's Response to Exam Paper Leaks

Jaiswal stated that the Prime Minister had treated the student protest over paper leaks with the utmost seriousness. 'Prime Minister Modi has taken the students' movement very seriously. He has decided that fast-track courts will be set up, and strict action will be taken against those involved in such incidents, and in future no such incident should occur and computerised examinations will be conducted,' Jaiswal said.

This comes after Modi posted a video message on X announcing, 'More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow's Cabinet!' The Prime Minister noted that arrests had already been made and that a comprehensive Bill carrying stringent punishments would be placed before the Union Cabinet before being tabled in Parliament. The government also said it had mobilised resources to ensure smooth examinations for nearly 22 lakh students.

Jaiswal on Sonam Wangchuk's Hunger Strike

Commenting on Wangchuk ending his 26-day hunger strike after receiving government assurances, Jaiswal said he personally respected the activist but alleged that outside interests had compromised the movement. 'See, I would like to say two things on this. First, Sonam Wangchuk is a good person in himself. However, his movement was misused by anti-national and foreign forces,' he said.

Notably, Wangchuk had launched his fast to press demands related to Ladakh's constitutional status and environmental protections. The Bihar minister's allegation of foreign interference adds a sharp political dimension to what began as a regional autonomy campaign.

CJP Protest Losing Steam, Says Jaiswal

Jaiswal was equally critical of the CJP-led demonstrations, alleging that the party's agitation had deviated from its original purpose. 'CJP has gone astray somewhere, and its deviation is what is ending its movement,' he said. The remarks signal the ruling dispensation's intent to reframe opposition-linked street protests as directionless or externally manipulated.

NEET Students' Anger 'Natural', But Coaching Institutes Blamed

Acknowledging the frustration of students affected by the NEET paper leak controversy, Jaiswal said their anger was understandable but placed partial responsibility on 'some students and coaching institutes.' 'The anger of NEET students is natural. Students work day and night, and if exams are cancelled due to paper leaks, they face difficulties. But such acts are carried out by some students and coaching institutes. The government is taking the students' grievances very seriously. The Prime Minister has also expressed concern,' he added.

The NEET controversy has triggered nationwide protests, with opposition parties demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe and the scrapping of the exam. The government's fast-track court announcement and the forthcoming Cabinet Bill represent its most concrete legislative response to date.

What Comes Next

With the Union Cabinet expected to clear the anti-paper-leak Bill imminently, the legislative and political pressure on the examination system is set to intensify. Whether fast-track courts and computerised testing can restore student confidence — and whether Jaiswal's allegations against foreign interference in Wangchuk's movement gain traction — will be closely watched in the days ahead.