Modi Addresses Exam Fraud Crisis Amid Rising Student Anger in India
NEW DELHI — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday promised “stringent punishment” for those involved in exam fraud, marking his first direct comments on a protest movement that has challenged his government and drawn thousands of young people to the streets.
“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth,” Modi said in a social media post, vowing to set up fast-track courts to prosecute those responsible for question paper leaks affecting some 2 million students.
The announcement came as protests by the self-named Cockroach Janta Party entered their 25th day. Demonstrators demanding Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation clashed with police late Wednesday in New Delhi, with officers firing tear gas and wielding canes. Over 10,000 people had gathered at the Jantar Mantar protest site, according to local media.
The movement has grown into the largest youth challenge to Modi since he took office in 2014, giving opposition parties a rare opening to pressure his government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi led protests outside Modi’s residence and parliament.
Delhi Metro shut 16 stations on Thursday due to security concerns, the second large-scale closure this week. The government has held one round of talks with protest leaders and offered to debate the issues in parliament.
The Cockroach Janta Party’s surge reflects deep frustration among young Indians over job shortages and frequent exam leaks. Modi’s government, which counts young voters as a core base, has faced sustained pressure since the 2024 election when the prime minister failed to secure an outright parliamentary majority.
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