No accountability, only fast-track promises on paper leaks: Shiv Sena(UBT) in 'Saamana'

The Shiv Sena UBT on Friday criticised the Centres response to the alleged NEET examination paper leak controversy saying Prime Minister Narendra Modis announcement of fasttrack courts does not address the demand for accountability over repeated examination irregularitiesIn an editorial published in its mouthpiece Saamana the Uddhav Thackerayled party said the Prime Ministers statement came only after widespread protests and public outrage over the alleged paper leak It also questioned why the announcement was made through a post on social media rather than through a statement in ParliamentSena questions timing of PMs announcementThe editorial noted that Prime Minister Modi had reiterated the governments commitment to protecting students and announced the establishment of fasttrack courts to ensure speedy trials and strict punishment for those involved in paper leak casesAccording to the editorial however the announcement failed to address the broader concerns being raised by protesting studentsThe Prime Minister had stated that the interests of students remained the governments top priority and asserted that No individual playing with the future of students will be sparedSaamana says Parliament should have been addressedThe editorial criticised the Prime Minister for choosing to communicate the governments position through the social media platform X instead of making a statement in Parliament or directly interacting with students leading the protestsAccording to the Shiv Sena UBT the announcement came at a time when demonstrations led by students and activist Sonam Wangchuk had been continuing at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi for nearly two monthsThe editorial also referred to police action during the protests and claimed that demonstrators had dismissed the announcement of fasttrack courts as insufficientProtesting students have dismissed PM Modis assurances as a mere bandage on a paper leak and termed the promises of fasttrack courts as empty rhetoric the editorial saidParty raises issue of Education Ministers accountabilityThe editorial argued that the Prime Minister should have sought the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before announcing new legal measuresHad the PM demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before announcing fasttrack courts his promises might have carried weight Instead none of this transpired leaving his statements looking like mere castles in the air The scepticism of the protesting students is justified no one is confident the Prime Minister will deliver on his promise Throughout his 12year tenure he has either maintained silence on critical national issues or undermined his own assurances the editorial saidThe Bharatiya Janata Party BJP has not responded to these remarks in the statement provided by IANSEditorial cites repeated paper leak incidentsThe Saamana editorial further claimed that there had been 152 examination paper leak incidents during the Modi governments tenure and alleged that meaningful action was taken only after the latest controversy triggered nationwide protestsThe party also questioned why no action had been taken against the Union Education Minister despite the allegations surrounding the examination systemThe Prime Minister failed to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who holds primary responsibility for the ministry While promising strict action against perpetrators the administration has simultaneously imposed the National Security Act NSA in Delhi to curb demonstrations drawing sharp criticism over its handling of public dissent the editorial saidSena questions whether reforms will followConcluding its criticism the Shiv Sena UBT said growing public concern over examination irregularities had created uncertainty about whether the governments latest announcements would lead to substantive reformsThe editorial argued that millions of students and parents affected by the controversy were looking for concrete action rather than assurances and questioned whether the promised measures would translate into lasting reforms of the examination system