By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: The Delhi BJP on Thursday accused opposition parties of attempting to exploit student protests for political revival, alleging they were “hijacking” genuine student movements while defending the Narendra Modi government’s response to examination paper leaks.
Addressing a joint press conference, Delhi BJP President and Union Minister of State Harsh Malhotra and Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood said the Centre’s decision to establish fast-track courts for paper leak cases reflected its commitment to protecting students’ interests and restoring confidence in the examination system.
Malhotra alleged that parties led by Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, and other opposition leaders were trying to derive political mileage by backing protests despite the NEET re-examination having already been conducted and its results declared. He claimed the protests had moved beyond student concerns and were being used to create unrest and political confrontation.
The BJP leader also urged the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party to answer allegations related to examination paper leaks during their respective tenures, referring to alleged incidents under the previous UPA government and the recent pharmacy examination paper leak in Punjab. He further highlighted the Modi government’s education initiatives, claiming that higher education institutions had increased by 25% and universities by nearly 70% between 2014-15 and 2023-24, alongside significant growth in higher education enrolment among Dalit and OBC students.
Ashish Sood, himself a former student leader, appealed to students not to allow their protests to be used for political purposes. He said the government recognised the concerns of aspirants and had acted swiftly by conducting the NEET re-examination while introducing long-term reforms, including fast-track judicial mechanisms to deal with paper leak cases.
“The interests and future of the country’s youth are our highest priority. Those responsible for compromising students’ futures will not be spared,” Sood said, while urging students to maintain faith in institutional reforms rather than allowing political parties to “hijack” their movement.
The BJP leaders also highlighted the party’s tradition of promoting former student leaders to key public offices, citing Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood, both former DUSU presidents, as examples of leadership emerging through democratic student politics rather than confrontation. They said the party remained committed to addressing students’ concerns while ensuring that peaceful movements were not overshadowed by political interests.
