Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government is sensitive about the paper leak. He said that after the assurance of PM Modi, the culprits have been arrested and they will be punished soon through a fast-track court. The opposition’s uproar is baseless.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday asserted that the central government is “very sensitive” to the issues faced by the youth, especially the exam paper leak. In an interview with ANI, the minister highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already responded to the situation, ensuring that those who “violate the sanctity” of the examinations will soon be brought to justice. Responding to the recent controversies related to competitive examinations, Sitharaman said the government’s proactive approach has made the opposition’s “allegations” baseless.
Sitharaman told ANI, “An issue that concerns the students, the youth of this country, especially their exam preparation, the leaking of exam papers and re-examination… These are very, very sensitive for children of that age who are preparing. If the government is not sensitive or is not responding, then I can understand such an uproar from the opposition. At the level of the Prime Minister, a response has been given.”
Government’s prompt action against the culprits
The Finance Minister said that the government had started taking action even before the formal announcement of administrative measures. He said, “In fact, much before today’s announcement of setting up fast-track courts and giving assurance that those who have violated the sanctity of an examination by leaking papers, by buying papers, by selling papers, they will be punished – even before this announcement, the government had arrested those who had actually committed this crime.”
Describing the criminals as “common citizens” motivated by “selfish reasons”, he said they have been detained for compromising the careers of thousands of students. He further said, “These are the people who for their selfish reasons violated the rules and bought and sold papers. All of them have been arrested. Today’s announcement by the Prime Minister gives confidence to the citizens, the mothers and fathers who are supporting their children so that they can crack these examinations because this is their career.”
Sitharaman also stressed that the establishment of a fast-track process will ensure that those who commit “this terrible crime against the young generation” are punished as soon as possible.
Steps taken for the future of students
Defending the government’s management of the crisis, the minister said the prompt conduct of re-examinations and timely declaration of results have allowed students to move ahead with their higher education plans. “Now, if this response from the government had not come – ensuring that arrests are made on time, re-examinations are made on time, and results are declared… the youth are now finding institutions where they have to go for their higher education. All this is happening,” the minister said.
He also shared a positive outlook on the flexibility of the student community, noting that many candidates used the extra time to improve their performance. Sitharaman concluded, “There are youth who are coming forward and saying, ‘Yes, at first I felt sad when the paper was leaked. But later I took advantage of it and prepared even more and my performance has improved.’ So there are youth who have accepted this challenge and achieved great success. With all this, the government is responding, the PM is responding.” (ANI)
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