24 July,2026 11:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Uddhav Thackeray. File Pic
The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Friday criticised the Centre's response to the alleged NEET examination paper leak controversy, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of fast-track courts does not address the demand for accountability over repeated examination irregularities.
In an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said the Prime Minister's statement came only after widespread protests and public outrage over the alleged paper leak. It also questioned why the announcement was made through a post on social media rather than through a statement in Parliament.
The editorial noted that Prime Minister Modi had reiterated the government's commitment to protecting students and announced the establishment of fast-track courts to ensure speedy trials and strict punishment for those involved in paper leak cases.
According to the editorial, however, the announcement failed to address the broader concerns being raised by protesting students.
The Prime Minister had stated that the interests of students remained the government's top priority and asserted that, "No individual playing with the future of students will be spared."
The editorial criticised the Prime Minister for choosing to communicate the government's position through the social media platform X instead of making a statement in Parliament or directly interacting with students leading the protests.
According to the Shiv Sena (UBT), the announcement came at a time when demonstrations led by students and activist Sonam Wangchuk had been continuing at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for nearly two months.
The editorial also referred to police action during the protests and claimed that demonstrators had dismissed the announcement of fast-track courts as insufficient.
"Protesting students have dismissed PM Modi's assurances as a mere 'bandage on a paper leak' and termed the promises of fast-track courts as 'empty rhetoric'," the editorial said.
The editorial argued that the Prime Minister should have sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before announcing new legal measures.
"Had the PM demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before announcing fast-track courts, his promises might have carried weight. Instead, none of this transpired, leaving his statements looking like mere 'castles in the air'. The scepticism of the protesting students is justified; no one is confident the Prime Minister will deliver on his promise. Throughout his 12-year tenure, he has either maintained silence on critical national issues or undermined his own assurances," the editorial said.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not responded to these remarks in the statement provided by IANS.
The Saamana editorial further claimed that there had been 152 examination paper leak incidents during the Modi government's tenure and alleged that meaningful action was taken only after the latest controversy triggered nationwide protests.
The party also questioned why no action had been taken against the Union Education Minister despite the allegations surrounding the examination system.
"The Prime Minister failed to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who holds primary responsibility for the ministry. While promising strict action against perpetrators, the administration has simultaneously imposed the National Security Act (NSA) in Delhi to curb demonstrations, drawing sharp criticism over its handling of public dissent," the editorial said.
Concluding its criticism, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said growing public concern over examination irregularities had created uncertainty about whether the government's latest announcements would lead to substantive reforms.
The editorial argued that millions of students and parents affected by the controversy were looking for concrete action rather than assurances and questioned whether the promised measures would translate into lasting reforms of the examination system.
