New Delhi [India], July 28 (ANI): Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday took a swipe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Centre during a discussion in the Lok Sabha, saying that by removing one “Pradhan”, the government had effectively saved the “Pradhan Mantri”, in an apparent reference to the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG paper leak issue.
Speaking during the discussion on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, Yadav said the resignation reflected the pressure created by students protesting against alleged irregularities in public examinations.
“When the Minister (Former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan) arrived (at the Parliament), he was welcomed outside the House. Imagine the immense relief the members must have felt and the major crisis from which they were saved. By removing one ‘Pradhan’, you effectively saved the ‘Pradhan Mantri’,” Yadav said.
Yadav also backed the student movement at Jantar Mantar and praised the “determination, grit and willpower” of the youngsters, saying their resolve had forced the government to shed its “arrogance”, engage in dialogue and accept their demands.
He further alleged that the ruling party was relieved that Pradhan’s resignation had saved the “Pradhan Mantri”. “The government thought it was invincible, but youngsters proved ‘jhukti hai duniya jhukane wala chahiye’. The government bowed down and made the minister resign,” he said.
The SP chief also attacked the BJP over its promises, saying, “The BJP doesn’t give promises; it gives jumlas. Something that started as a joke has become so serious.”
Speaking during the Parliament’s Monsoon Session over the Amendment Bill, Yadav questioned the government’s ability to prevent examination paper leaks.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill seeks to further strengthen the provisions of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 by providing for fast-tracked investigation, speedy trial through Special Fast Track Courts, appointment of Special Public Prosecutors, time-bound disposal of appeals and more stringent penal provisions to effectively deter unfair means and organised malpractices in public examinations.
“How can those who failed to prevent the theft of offerings possibly prevent paper leaks? They have merely introduced an amendment to the existing law. Whom are you trying to hoodwink? If the law were effective, how did 20 exams get leaked during the BJP’s ten-year tenure?” he said.
His remarks led to a sharp exchange with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who questioned whether Yadav preferred the imposition of Emergency over a government responding to a student agitation.
“Which is better, a situation where the government listens to a student protest and introduces a bill in Parliament, or one where the government imposes a nationwide Emergency to crush the protest?” Rijiju said.
Replying to Rijiju, Yadav said, “I did not witness the Emergency firsthand, but we have seen echoes of what happened then right here in the national capital. The issue is not the law; your intentions are not honest. The moment your intentions become honest, the examination process will also become clean.”
Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav, along with other Samajwadi Party MPs, staged a protest against the BJP, alleging that more than 20 examination paper leaks had taken place during the party’s tenure at the Centre.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also questioned the government’s handling of the 2024 National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET-UG) paper leak, saying 44 of the 45 accused charge-sheeted in the case have been granted bail.
Opening the discussion on the Bill from the Opposition’s side in the Lok Sabha, Gogoi said, “Now, I want to place before the House the current status of the investigation into the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak. So that the country can understand how serious this government is about the massive corruption that took place in the NEET examination two years ago. With great regret, I want to point out that an article published in 2026 stated that out of the 45 people charge-sheeted in the NEET-UG 2024 paper leak case, 44 have already been granted bail. This is the government’s seriousness.” (ANI)
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