The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday dismissed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of setting up fast-track courts for paper leak cases, calling it a "distraction" that fails to address the root cause of the NEET paper leak crisis. The outfit reiterated its demand that education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign, saying accountability must begin with him. Soon after the Prime Minister posted on X that the Centre would establish fast-track courts to ensure swift trials and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks, the CJP issued a terse response on the social media platform.
"Dharmendra Pradhan Must Resign," the organisation wrote on X.
In another response, CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke quote-posted Modi's message with a photograph of Dharmendra Pradhan carrying the text, "Hi, I am nothing", taking a swipe at both the Prime Minister and the education minister over what the organisation described as the government's refusal to seek Pradhan's resignation.
In a detailed statement issued later, CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka said the Prime Minister's announcement failed to address the real issue behind repeated examination paper leaks.
"The announcement of fast-track courts is not a real solution. It is merely a distraction. The Prime Minister is making a cruel joke with the future of millions of students across this country," Ranka said.
He argued that paper leaks were not taking place because India lacked fast-track courts, but because "Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has been completely incompetent." "He has failed to build a secure and foolproof examination system. Today, the youth of this country are demanding one thing above all else — accountability," Ranka said.
Calling the Centre's proposal inadequate, he added: "The Prime Minister's proposed solution is like putting a Band-Aid on a fractured bone. The problem runs much deeper. Our examination system is rotten from within. Unless the systemic failures are addressed, paper leaks will continue to occur." Ranka further said students "do not need promises of long legal processes" and instead deserved "immediate justice and accountability." "That accountability must begin with strict action against Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan," he said.