Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his thanks to India's youth for their overwhelming response to a late-night video he shared regarding examination reforms. The Prime Minister stated that the positive feedback has significantly strengthened his connection with the country's younger generation.
Government Pushes Anti-Paper Leak Legislation
Modi's message arrived as the central government continues its discussions with protesting students while simultaneously moving forward with a more stringent anti-paper leak law. The Prime Minister's video, posted late Thursday night, announced that the Union Cabinet would consider a draft law proposing fast-track courts and enhanced penalties for individuals involved in examination paper leaks.
The nearly three-minute video quickly garnered significant attention, accumulating over 2.5 million views within eight minutes and surpassing one million likes on Instagram within 20 minutes. The Prime Minister also gained nearly one million new followers on the platform overnight.
Addressing Student Concerns
Calling examination paper leaks a grave concern, PM Modi acknowledged the immense distress such incidents have caused to millions of students and their families. He affirmed the government's commitment to introducing the proposed legislation during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament without delay. The Prime Minister emphasized that ensuring students do not lose an academic year was the government's immediate priority following controversies surrounding alleged paper leaks, such as the NEET examination.
Ongoing Dialogues with Protesters
While legislative measures advance, the government has maintained discussions with representatives from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), a key group leading protests over the NEET paper leak issue. A third round of talks was held in New Delhi, with both sides agreeing to further meetings. However, a significant point of contention remains the protesters' demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
CJP leaders have declared Pradhan's resignation a "non-negotiable" demand, asserting that protests will persist until it is met. Government sources, however, indicate that the minister's resignation is not being considered, with discussions focusing on other demands.
Beyond the minister's resignation, the CJP has called for a public apology to students allegedly assaulted during a July 20 march to Parliament, ₹1 crore in compensation for families of students who reportedly died by suicide after the May 3 NEET examination cancellation, and the withdrawal of all First Information Reports (FIRs) and legal cases against protesters. Following a nearly two-hour meeting, CJP spokesperson Saurav Das noted positive responses from the government regarding compensation and case withdrawals, while Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda stated the Centre would respond after internal consultations.
Cabinet Encouraged to Boost Social Media Presence
In a separate development, sources revealed that PM Modi urged his Cabinet colleagues to increase their activity on Instagram and other social media platforms to foster better engagement with young people. During a recent Cabinet meeting, he reportedly inquired about ministers' Instagram usage and underscored that a significant portion of India's youth actively uses the platform. The Prime Minister encouraged ministers to leverage social media more effectively to communicate government initiatives and directly interact with younger audiences.