Modi vows to set up special courts to punish guilty in exam fraud

NEW DELHI — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that "fast-track" courts would be set up to prosecute those behind exam paper leaks, his first public response after days of youth protests demanding the resignation of the education minister.

Modi's comments came hours after protesters clashed briefly with police on the streets of New Delhi late on Wednesday, with officers firing tear gas and wielding canes to push them back.

The protests have grown into one of the biggest challenges to Modi since he came to power in 2014, with opposition parties echoing the demands of the youth movement and disrupting the monsoon session of Parliament that began this week.

"Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth," Modi posted on X, promising to set up fast-track courts to punish those involved in the exam paper leaks.

"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," he said.

Fast-track courts, designed to quickly hear and dispose of cases, were created to get around the country's justice system that can take years to conclude cases.

Such special courts have been set up to handle sex crimes against women and children, terrorism, money laundering, and crimes by lawmakers.

The youth-led Cockroach Janta Party launched protests last month against the question paper leaks that affected some 2 million students and have been linked to several suicides.

It responded on Thursday to Modi's announcement by quoting his X post and saying Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan "must resign".

Leader of the main opposition Congress Party, Rahul Gandhi, also responded by quoting Modi's post and saying it was the prime minister who had harmed the future of Indian youth the most.

"You allowed and encouraged the total capture and destruction of our education system — and protected every person responsible for it," Gandhi said, reiterating that Pradhan should be sacked, Modi should apologize to students, and those who assaulted them should be punished.

Late on Wednesday, more than 10,000 people were estimated to have gathered at the Jantar Mantar protest site in central New Delhi, local media reported, as Cockroach Janta Party leaders vowed to continue their month-old protest until Pradhan resigned over the exam paper leaks.

The party, which has millions of followers on social media, emerged in May initially as a satirical response to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant reportedly likening young people to "cockroaches" and "parasites" during a court hearing.

The movement has since broadened its agenda to include concerns over unemployment, opportunities for young people and government accountability.

AGENCIES VIA XINHUA