The Opposition leaders on Friday expressed dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's video message where he assured the agitating students of introducing a strict law to check exam paper leaks, and asserted that accountability can be fixed only with the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Early on Thursday, PM Modi had directed the formation of fast-track courts to ensure severe punishment for those proven guilty in paper leak cases.

Responding to the same, Congress MP P. Chidambaram asked: "What is the use of fast-track courts? There are fast-track courts for every subject. But there are no fast-track judges. There are not enough judges to fill the existing courts."

"They don't appoint the judges and they create a fast-track court. A fast-track court is not a building. It's a judge, a court master, staff. When will they create that?" he said while speaking to reporters outside Parliament House.

(IANS)

🔴#BREAKING | Key Cabinet meet on paper leaks begin
NDTV's @Vasudha156 joins @PadmajaJoshi and @VedikaS with more details pic.twitter.com/0RGolrXQpD

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026

🔴#BREAKING | Lok Sabha till Monday adjourned amid Opposition's sloganeering
NDTV's @Vasudha156 joins @PadmajaJoshi & @VedikaS with more details pic.twitter.com/xtLZ2hWhch

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026

🔴#NewsAlert | Lok Sabha adjourned till 2 PM amid ruckus

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju speaks in Lok Sabha. He says, "I have requested KC Venugopal ji once again today, when we are all of the opinion that there should be a discussion on NEET. The PM has assured the nation. Sonam Wangchuk has broken his hunger… pic.twitter.com/1HcLc0a5ep

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2026

The Trinamool Congress on Friday said the opposition will jointly raise the alleged use of pellet guns against students during the July 20 police crackdown on the Cockroach Janta Party's 'Sansad Chalo' march in Parliament, demanding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah be held accountable in the matter.

Sagarika Ghose, Trinamool's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, claimed that evidence had emerged showing security forces used pellet guns against unarmed student protesters.

"Horrifying brutality by the Narendra Modi regime. Proof has now emerged that security forces did fire deadly pellet guns - which can result in blindness - on our unarmed and vulnerable children protesting on the streets and pleading for an accountable examination system," Ghose said in an X post.

Horrifying brutality by the @narendramodi regime. Proof has now emerged that security forces did fire deadly pellet guns - which can result in blindness — on our unarmed & vulnerable children protesting on the streets and pleading for an accountable examination system. UNITED… pic.twitter.com/3Zv9Cevn03

— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) July 24, 2026

Stalemate continues between the NDA and the INDIA Bloc as Opposition MPs continue to protest demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan @aishvaryjain pic.twitter.com/3CCYJlvx6f

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026

"If PM Modi wants to say something, he must come to Parliament and voice his opinions" : Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge pic.twitter.com/5IrTGUjrLe

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026

#NDTVExclusive | "There have been systematic leaks - the NEET paper leak was the last straw. Government must tell us how they are restoring integrity of the examination system" : Senior Congress leader and MP Karti Chidambaram (@KartiPC) to NDTV's @tejshreethought pic.twitter.com/nt2nGzkl9L

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026

#Watch | INDIA Bloc MPs Hold Protest At Makar Dwar, Call For Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's Resignation pic.twitter.com/m9xMQTD06M

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026

Monsoon session | Lok Sabha adjourned till 12 noon today.

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2026

#NDTVExclusive | "Our aim is to take the youth's demands to the Prime Minister" : Congress MP Praveen Chakravarthy (@pravchak) on student protests pic.twitter.com/ppnBCcNGFi

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026

The Centre said on Friday that it remains committed to ensuring justice for students and strict action against anyone who tries to compromise their future.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said on X that he and J P Nadda held a detailed discussion with Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram.

"Along with Union Minister for Health Sh @JPNadda Ji, met Shri Sonam Wangchuk Ji at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, and held a detailed discussion on students' concerns. Assured a constructive dialogue and positive intervention from the Government, following which Sonam Ji decided to end his fast," Dr Singh said.

He further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the "government remains committed to ensuring justice for students and strict action against anyone who tries to compromise their future".

Activist Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike after receiving assurances from the Central government and Members of Parliament across political parties that the issue of accountability in the country's examination system would be taken up in Parliament.

(IANS)

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday said when Parliament is in session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be making a statement on the paper leaks issue on the floor of the House and not delivering a "one-sided Mann Ki Baat".

Kharge's remarks came after Modi announced on Thursday night in a video message that a bill containing provisions for strong action against paper leaks would be introduced in Parliament next week.

In a video message, PM Modi also said the contours of the bill would be discussed at a meeting of the Union Cabinet on Friday, where the proposed legislation will be finalised.

Reacting to the PM's remarks, Kharge said, "Before coming to Parliament today, please dismiss Dharmendra Pradhan. First, apologise to the students and take strict action against those who ordered the use of batons and pellet guns to suppress the students' voices. Then we are ready for a detailed discussion on the education system."

"When Parliament is in session, the prime minister is required to make a statement on the floor of the House. He should not be delivering a one-sided 'Mann Ki Baat' outside Parliament," the Congress chief said in a post in Hindi on X.

(PTI)

🔴#NewsAlert | Opposition MPs to protest in front of Makar Dwar in Parliament at 10:30 AM over students issue

— NDTV (@ndtv) July 24, 2026