Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday took a swipe at the BJP-led Centre during a Lok Sabha debate on the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, claiming that the resignation of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was intended to shield Prime Minister Narendra Modi from mounting public anger over the NEET-UG paper leak controversy.
Referring to the welcome Dharmendra Pradhan received from NDA MPs after his resignation, Akhilesh Yadav remarked, "By removing one 'Pradhan', you effectively saved the 'Pradhan Mantri'."
He alleged that the government had been forced to act because of sustained student protests over alleged irregularities in public examinations. "I salute the youngsters for their determination, grit and unity. They forced the government to bow down, engage in dialogue and accept their demands," Yadav said.
Targeting the BJP, the Samajwadi Party leader accused the ruling party of making empty promises. "The BJP doesn't give promises; it gives jumlas. What began as a joke has now become a serious reality," he said. Questioning the effectiveness of the proposed legislation, Yadav argued that tougher laws alone could not address the problem of examination paper leaks. "If the law was effective, how did over 20 examinations witness paper leaks during the BJP's tenure? How can those who failed to prevent theft elsewhere prevent paper leaks?" he asked.
Akhilesh Yadav's remarks prompted a sharp response from Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who defended the government's decision to respond to student protests. "Which is better, a government that listens to students and brings a Bill before Parliament, or one that imposes an Emergency to crush protests?" Rijiju said.
Responding to the comparison, Akhilesh Yadav said the issue was not the law but the government's intent. "I did not witness the Emergency firsthand, but we have seen echoes of it in the national capital. The problem is not the law; your intentions are not honest. The day your intentions become honest, the examination process will also become clean," he said.
Earlier in the day, Akhilesh Yadav and other Samajwadi Party MPs staged a protest in Parliament, alleging that more than 20 examination paper leaks had taken place during the BJP's tenure at the Centre.
Opening the debate for the Opposition, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi also questioned the government's handling of the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak case, citing the status of the investigation. "Out of the 45 people charge-sheeted in the 2024 NEET-UG paper leak case, 44 have already been granted bail. This reflects the government's seriousness in tackling the massive corruption that took place in the examination," Gogoi said.
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks to strengthen the 2024 law by providing for fast-tracked investigations, Special Fast Track Courts, Special Public Prosecutors, time-bound disposal of appeals and stricter penalties to curb organised malpractice in public examinations.
