'Nothing more important than the welfare and future of youth': PM Modi's fresh message amid mounting NEET protests

In a post on X, the Prime Minister said the "welfare and future" of the youth remain paramount and announced the setting up of fast-track courts to ensure strict action against those involved in paper leaks.

The Prime Minister wrote on X, "Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks.

"Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students. Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared."

The Prime Minister's message comes at a time when satirical online campaign Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protesters have been camped at Delhi's Jantar Mantar for weeks, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, reforms in the education sector, and Rs. 1 crore compensation for the families of all NEET aspirants who died by suicide.

Thousands of young people have joined the protests, with crowds swelling in support of the movement that has cornered the Modi government since the police crackdown on protesters during the Parliament March on July 20.

The movement gathered further momentum after activist Sonam Wangchuk, who is on an indefinite fast in support of the agitation, was forcibly removed by police from Jantar Mantar and admitted to a government hospital.

He has since been shifted to a private medical facility following a court order.

Earlier this week, Modi defended his government's response to the paper leak, highlighting the swift action taken against those responsible and stressing the need for a collective effort to build a "foolproof" examination system.

The Prime Minister's remarks were shared by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju who said the government acted immediately after reports of irregularities in the NEET examination surfaced.

"On the NEET examination, the Prime Minister said the government acted immediately after reports of irregularities surfaced, leading to the arrest and imprisonment of 13 individuals. He added that, keeping students' futures as the top priority, a re-examination was conducted promptly and the results were declared without delay," Rijiju said.

He added that the Prime Minister also outlined the stringent measures being implemented to prevent future paper leaks.

"The Prime Minister also outlined the stringent measures being implemented to prevent any future paper leaks, stressing the need to bring the guilty to justice and collectively build a foolproof examination system," Rijiju said.