Modi Vows Strict Action as NEET Protests Paralyze Parliament

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of fast-track courts to ensure stringent punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks, describing such crimes as a "grave sin." The move follows weeks of escalating unrest led by the youth-driven Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), centered on the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak which affected approximately two million students and was linked to numerous student suicides.

Tensions peaked on July 20, 2026, when a "Sansad Chalo" march toward Parliament turned violent. Delhi Police used tear gas and lathi charges to disperse crowds, resulting in roughly 180 injuries among students and security personnel. The unrest was further amplified by activist Sonam Wangchuk, who undertook an indefinite hunger strike before being forcibly hospitalized by police on July 18. The Delhi High Court later ordered his transfer to a private facility.

The crisis paralyzed the Monsoon Session of Parliament for three consecutive days. Opposition leaders, led by Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as a prerequisite for any formal debate. On July 21, Gandhi and other leaders staged a sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, leading to their detention by police. Reports emerged that Gandhi suffered a nosebleed during his removal.

While the government has offered a parliamentary discussion and potential compensation for deceased students' families, it has refused to sack Pradhan. Dharmendra Pradhan dismissed the protests as a "political spectacle," accusing the opposition of exploiting students as "political tools." Meanwhile, the CJP continues its sit-in at Jantar Mantar, vowing to persist until Pradhan resigns.