Now Reading: India passes law doubling prison for exam leaks after protests
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India passes law doubling prison for exam leaks after protests
India's upper house of parliament has passed a bill doubling the maximum prison sentence for exam paper leaks to 10 years and raising the maximum fine to over Rs 8 crore. The legislation, which cleared the lower house a day earlier, was approved by voice vote after hours of debate. The bill now requires presidential assent to become law.
The new penalties come after weeks of youth-led protests spearheaded by the online Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) movement, which forced Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. Demonstrations turned violent on July 20 when police fired tear gas and baton-charged protesters trying to march to parliament. Rights groups have condemned the government's use of force.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to set up fast-track courts for paper leak cases and offered compensation for families of over 20 students who died by suicide after exam cancellations. The CJP has said protests will continue until Pradhan is removed. Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended a 26-day hunger strike after government assurances.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both sources frame the protests and government response similarly, but Al Jazeera's reporting emphasises the scale and defiance of the Cockroach Janta Party movement, noting its evolution from satire to a national platform. The coverage highlights rights groups' criticism of police action, while Modi's promise of fast-track courts is presented as a response to sustained agitation. The measured takeaway is that the new law addresses punishment but protesters continue to demand systemic reforms and accountability, with the resignation demand unresolved.
Coverage: 2 sources, 1 government-critical, 1 neutral
Sources (2): aljazeera.com (government critical), aljazeera.com (2) (neutral report)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
