Students turned setback into opportunity: Sitharaman defending Centre’ s response on paper leak case

Answering questions on Delhi’s Jantha manter protests over the paper leaks, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday said many students took advantage of paper leaks and improved their performance.

Highlighting Prime Minister Narendra Modi response to the situation and assurance that those who violated the sacredness of examinations in a press interview, she said, “There are young people who are coming out and saying, ‘Yes, first it hurt me when the paper leaks happened. But later I took advantage of that and prepared even more, and my performance has improved.’ So, there are young people who have taken this challenge and come out with bright colours. With all this, the government is responding, the PM is responding.””Now, if this response had not come from the government–making sure that arrests are done in time, re-exams happen on time, and results are announced… young people are now finding the institutions where they have to go for their higher education. All this is happening, she added praising swift action by the centre.”

Responding to comments on the opposition, the finance minister claimed that government’s proactive actions on paper leaks have rendered the opposition’s “tirade” baseless. “A matter which relates to students, young people of this country, particularly about their preparation for exams, exam paper leakage and re-exam… these are very, very sensitive for that age of the children who are undergoing the preparation. If the government is not sensitive or not reacting, I can understand the opposition going on a tirade like this. At the level of the prime minister, a response has been given,” she said.

Speaking about those involved in the leak she promised that they would be punished for violating the sacredness of an exam.