Chirag Paswan joins students in demanding root-cause fix for paper leaks

Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan has said resignations, official transfers and new legislation alone cannot fix the paper leak problem, calling for a deeper overhaul of the education system. In an exclusive interview with ABP News, Paswan questioned whether the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the tabling of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, and transfers of officials had addressed the source of the problem. "We are yet to reach the root cause of the paper leak," he said, urging both government and Opposition to leave politics aside.

Student leaders in Mumbai echoed the criticism more sharply. "The new exam bill is like a band-aid trying to cure a heart attack," said Neha Bora, president of the All India Students' Association, at an event on July 27. She said the National Testing Agency functions without transparency, and that civil society had opposed its formation. Actor-activist Rhiya Ahir noted that women who speak out face targeted harassment online. Both panelists traced their political consciousness to early participation in theatre and performing arts.

Paswan said the government should not push students to reappear repeatedly, and that identifying the person who first obtained and circulated a leaked paper is essential. He added that he completely agrees with the concerns of Gen-Z protesters. The next step is Parliament's scrutiny of the new anti-cheating bill.