Announcing fast-track courts won't stop paper leaks: Karti Chidambaram jabs PM

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in the NEET paper leak, saying the move will not address the deeper problems behind the repeated leaks.

He said the Centre must identify the gaps in the supply chain, explain what corrective steps are being taken, and fix accountability. Earlier in the day, PM Modi said the welfare and interests of the country's youth were the government's top priority and that anyone trying to harm their future would not be spared.

Speaking to PTI Videos, Chidambaram said, "Merely announcing fast-track courts will not really solve the systemic problems. There are specific reasons why these leaks are happening regularly because of the commercial angle of the coaching centres. There's an incentive for them to show inflated results. So, they are willing to indulge in all kinds of unscrupulous practices by encouraging paper leaks and initiating paper leaks."

He also said the fault lay with the National Testing Agency and the agencies running the exam, as the leaks were taking place under their watch. "This fast-track court is only post fact. After an illegal act happens, they apprehend the perpetrators and take them to court. But this will not stop the leak itself. They must say where is the chink in supply chain by which the leak is happening and how they are correcting it, those responsible for it and who are they holding accountable," he said.

Chidambaram criticised the government's response to the NEET exam row and said the focus should be on fixing responsibility instead of only announcing fast-track courts.

Amid continuing protests by youths over the paper leak, PM Modi said the government had decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved, while Chidambaram maintained that the larger issue was to plug the leak and hold those responsible to account.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement of fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in the NEET paper leak, saying the move will not address the deeper problems behind the repeated leaks.

He said the Centre must identify the gaps in the supply chain, explain what corrective steps are being taken, and fix accountability. Earlier in the day, PM Modi said the welfare and interests of the country's youth were the government's top priority and that anyone trying to harm their future would not be spared.

Speaking to PTI Videos, Chidambaram said, "Merely announcing fast-track courts will not really solve the systemic problems. There are specific reasons why these leaks are happening regularly because of the commercial angle of the coaching centres. There's an incentive for them to show inflated results. So, they are willing to indulge in all kinds of unscrupulous practices by encouraging paper leaks and initiating paper leaks."

He also said the fault lay with the National Testing Agency and the agencies running the exam, as the leaks were taking place under their watch. "This fast-track court is only post fact. After an illegal act happens, they apprehend the perpetrators and take them to court. But this will not stop the leak itself. They must say where is the chink in supply chain by which the leak is happening and how they are correcting it, those responsible for it and who are they holding accountable," he said.

Chidambaram criticised the government's response to the NEET exam row and said the focus should be on fixing responsibility instead of only announcing fast-track courts.

Amid continuing protests by youths over the paper leak, PM Modi said the government had decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved, while Chidambaram maintained that the larger issue was to plug the leak and hold those responsible to account.