Opposition rejects Modi's paper leak assurance, demands Pradhan's resignation
Synopsis
PM Modi's video assurance on paper leaks — promising fast-track courts and a new law — has failed to satisfy the Opposition, which is united on a single demand: Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. With Congress, Samajwadi Party, and TMC all speaking in one voice, the political pressure on the government is intensifying even as BJP defends the response.
Key Takeaways
Opposition leaders on 24 July rejected PM Narendra Modi 's video assurance on exam paper leaks, calling it insufficient.
PM Modi had directed the formation of fast-track courts on Thursday to punish those proven guilty in paper leak cases.
Chidambaram argued fast-track courts are meaningless without adequate judicial appointments.
Congress, Samajwadi Party, and Trinamool Congress are united in demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan .
TMC MP Kirti Azad compared Modi's assurance to unfulfilled past promises, including the ₹15 lakh bank deposit pledge.
BJP MP Madan Rathore welcomed the PM's message, backing a new law to align exam conduct with UPSC standards.
Opposition leaders on Friday, 24 July rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video assurance to agitating students on exam paper leaks, insisting that genuine accountability requires the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The pushback came a day after Modi directed the formation of fast-track courts to deliver swift punishment in proven paper leak cases.
Congress Challenges Fast-Track Court Promise
Congress MP P. Chidambaram questioned the practical value of the announcement, speaking outside Parliament House. 'What is the use of fast-track courts? There are fast-track courts for every subject. But there are no fast-track judges. There are not enough judges to fill the existing courts,' he said. He pressed further: 'They don't appoint the judges and they create a fast-track court. A fast-track court is not a building. It's a judge, a court master, staff. When will they create that?'
Congress MP Manoj Kumar demanded clarity on the minister's future. 'If PM Modi has made such a lengthy video seeking justice, then he should clearly state when Dharmendra Pradhan will resign because he is the one who is responsible. When will this new directive regarding the fast-track courts be applicable to him?' he said. Congress MP Jebi Mather echoed the position, stating that no assurances short of Pradhan's resignation would suffice.
Samajwadi Party and TMC Add to the Pressure
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad questioned why the NDA leadership had not yet sought Pradhan's resignation. 'PM Modi should first take the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and then reach out to the students,' he said. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Kirti Azad drew a pointed comparison: 'I look at his statement with the same enthusiasm with which he was going to deposit Rs 15 lakh in every bank account and when he had promised to bring back black money from abroad. I see the same enthusiasm when he says that action will be taken against all those responsible. This action should be taken in 2024 (NEET leak).'
TMC MP Saugata Roy also expressed dissatisfaction, reiterating the Opposition's unified demand: 'We want Dharmendra Pradhan to resign.'
Opposition's Unified Demand
Congress MP Mallu Ravi articulated the broader Opposition stance, accusing the Prime Minister of deflection. 'What the students are asking for, what Rahul Gandhi is asking for, what Akhilesh Yadav is asking for, and what the entire Opposition is asking for is the resignation of the Education Minister as a matter of government accountability. You are conveniently forgetting that, avoiding the question, and trying to brief people on whatever you want,' he said. Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat added that 'flowery speeches and language' were being used to reach out to protesting students rather than addressing the substantive issue.
BJP Defends the Government's Response
Not all reactions were critical. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Madan Rathore welcomed Modi's message, saying, 'The government also made efforts, and it was successful in those. PM Modi has said that we will introduce such a law and get it passed in the Cabinet so that examinations can be conducted on the lines of the UPSC and paper leaks can be prevented in the future.' The government is yet to respond formally to the Opposition's resignation demand. With Parliament in session and student protests continuing, the political standoff over exam integrity and ministerial accountability shows no sign of easing.
Point of View
Not accountability — and the Opposition knows it. By refusing to name Pradhan as a casualty, the government is betting that procedural reform will defuse student anger without a ministerial scalp. That is a risky calculation: the NEET controversy has already demonstrated that institutional credibility in competitive examinations is fragile, and a law without a resignation risks looking like a shield rather than a remedy. The BJP's own defence — that the government 'made efforts and succeeded' — sits awkwardly alongside the scale of the leak crisis. The real test will be whether the promised legislation arrives with teeth or joins the long queue of reform announcements that outlived the protests that triggered them.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Opposition demanding Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation?
Opposition parties argue that Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan bears direct ministerial responsibility for the exam paper leak irregularities, including the 2024 NEET leak. They contend that no procedural fix — including fast-track courts — constitutes genuine accountability without a resignation.
What did PM Modi announce in his video message on paper leaks?
PM Modi directed the formation of fast-track courts on Thursday to ensure severe punishment for those proven guilty in paper leak cases. He also indicated plans to introduce a strict new law to prevent future leaks and align exam conduct with UPSC standards.
What is Congress MP P. Chidambaram's objection to fast-track courts?
Chidambaram argued that fast-track courts are ineffective without adequate judicial appointments, noting that existing courts already lack sufficient judges. He questioned when the government would fill those vacancies before creating new court structures.
Which Opposition parties have joined the demand for Pradhan's resignation?
The Indian National Congress (INC), Samajwadi Party, and All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) have all publicly demanded Pradhan's resignation, presenting a unified front across party lines on the issue of ministerial accountability.
How has the BJP responded to the Opposition's criticism?
BJP MP Madan Rathore welcomed PM Modi's message, saying the government had already made successful efforts and that a new law would be introduced in the Cabinet to prevent paper leaks and bring exam conduct in line with UPSC norms.
