Samajwadi Party Criticizes Government's Handling of Exam Issues

SP's Critique of Government Actions

On Monday, the Samajwadi Party (SP) directed criticism at the central government regarding its approach to handling exam-related issues. The party accused the government of disregarding public sentiment, as evidenced by the actions taken against protesting students. They questioned whether stringent laws alone could prevent paper leaks without systemic reforms. Akhilesh Yadav remarked that the significant protests either ceased due to government intervention or because the administration conceded to the students' demands. He insisted that the government should disclose the specific agreements it has made, especially since it had previously stated that no cases would be filed, yet students in Bihar have been imprisoned.

Government's Targeting of Students

While addressing journalists, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of targeting students and youth by filing cases against them in various locations. He emphasized that the government should not challenge 'public consciousness' and noted that rising public awareness has become a challenge for the ruling establishment. Referring to the opposition's response, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh mentioned that leaders from all political parties would convene to determine future actions.

Concerns Over Legislative Measures

In a related discussion, senior SP leader Ramgopal Yadav raised concerns about whether the 'Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026' and the establishment of a high-powered task force for exam reforms, led by Nandan Nilekani, would effectively resolve the issue of paper leaks. He pointed out that leaks typically occur at the stages of question paper preparation, printing, or other critical phases. Coaching centers, which often have extensive access, are frequently where these leaks originate. He argued that despite the creation of laws, such irregularities began with the digitization of processes; before the digital age, such issues were rare. The ease of leaking or hacking has significantly increased.

Delayed Legislative Action

Another senior SP leader, Avadhesh Prasad, expressed that the bill has come too late, stating it should have been enacted earlier. He emphasized that prevention is better than cure, suggesting that had such a law been in place sooner, many young lives lost to suicide could have been saved. Students protested at Jantar Mantar, resulting in injuries and the detention of Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition leaders. He asserted that had this legislation been introduced earlier, such incidents might have been avoided.

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