Bhubaneswar: Voicing grave concern over alleged examination paper leak, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Sunday demanded a thorough discussion on the issue in the upcoming session of Parliament.
The ‘grave issue’ affecting millions of students across the country, must be taken up in the Parliament session beginning tomorrow as the highest priority and accountability should be fixed for ‘lapse of trust,’ the former chief minister said in a post on X.
Urging the government to hold talks with protesting students. Naveen said BJD firmly stands with the youth and students of the country. The Central government should initiate a meaningful dialogue with the students who have been “peacefully” protesting for days over alleged irregularities in conduct of national level entrance examinations, he said.
Naveen, who is also the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Odisha Assembly, said that a nation that compromises the integrity of its examination system, compromises its own future.
“For millions of children in our country, education remains the only path to a brighter future. Every developed nation is built upon a strong education system and a transparent, credible examination process. India too has made remarkable progress because of the strength of its education system.
It has nurtured generations of brilliant doctors, scientists, engineers, teachers, and innovators who have shaped modern India.”
“Today, however, trust in this system stands broken. The damage goes far beyond a failed exam. It shatters faith in the very foundation of education system. It tells deserving students that hard work no longer matters, and robs them of their only ladder out of poverty. A nation that compromises the integrity of its examination system, compromises its own future,” the BJD chief said.
“This grave issue, affecting millions of students across the country, must be taken up in Parliament as the highest priority. It deserves a thorough debate in the temple of our democracy, leading to concrete reforms that ensure paper leaks, flawed assessments, and systemic failures are never repeated. Accountability must also be fixed for this lapse of trust,” said Naveen.
Stating that protesting students must be given a platform to express their views, he said a vibrant democracy advances through dialogue, not silence—and this dialogue is most vital when it involves the youth of the nation. The children and young people of India are looking to us for leadership. We cannot fail them.
“Sincere, open-minded dialogue with the peaceful youth protestors will help restore faith in our democracy, in our education system, and in the leadership entrusted with shaping their future. BJD stands firmly with the youth and students of the country,” added Naveen.
