Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Wednesday said that the Centre was open to discussions with all stakeholders on the examination paper leak issue. He also said that the government had held talks with representatives of the protesting CJP and had also urged activist Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike and join the ‘mainstream dialogue process’.
Addressing a press conference, Nadda said the meeting with CJP representatives was held in a cordial atmosphere, during which the government heard their concerns and asked them to submit their demands in writing.
"The discussion took place in a very cordial atmosphere. We listened to their views very calmly. I told them it would be better if they submitted their points in writing, and they have done so. We are ready for discussions whenever they ask," he said, while clarifying that no fresh meeting took place on Wednesday.
Speaking about his visit to Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital, where the activist is undergoing treatment after being shifted from Safdarjung Hospital, Nadda said he enquired about his health and appealed to him to end his fast.
"We went to inquire about his well-being. Since he was in the ICU, the environment was very restricted. We requested him to break his fast, join the mainstream and guide the children in the right direction. Our government is ready to discuss all issues and address every concern," Nadda said, adding that Wangchuk had written him an open letter, and the government would respond to it before taking the dialogue forward.
Reiterating that the government wanted a detailed debate on examination paper leaks, Nadda said Parliament was the most appropriate forum to evolve a long-term policy on the issue.
He said that the matter will be discussed in Parliament. We are ready for a short-duration discussion, a long-duration discussion, or even a debate lasting 12 or 18 hours if the Opposition wants, he added. He further remarked that every aspect should be discussed and a concrete policy should emerge. Children are the future of the country, and it is the responsibility of both the government and the Opposition to safeguard that future, he asserted.
Nadda also sought to counter the Opposition's allegations by listing instances of paper leaks in states governed by Congress and other Opposition parties. He cited examination irregularities in Jammu and Kashmir under the Congress-National Conference government, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab, Kerala and Karnataka, arguing that paper leaks were not confined to BJP-ruled states.
There is a long list of paper leaks under Congress and Congress-supported governments, he said. Why is Rahul Gandhi selective? Why has he not spoken about UPA and UPA-supported governments? This clearly shows that his objective is not students' welfare or improving education but gaining political mileage from students' issues, he alleged.
The Union Minister accused Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi of politicising students' concerns instead of seeking justice for them.
The issue raised by students, particularly paper leaks, is genuine. My first appeal is that we should not politicise it or seek political advantage from it. This is a serious issue that deserves an in-depth discussion, he said.
Assuring that the Narendra Modi government remained committed to addressing the issue, Nadda said that the government is always eager that every issue should be discussed in Parliament. The Opposition should present its views, the government will respond, and together we should work towards a lasting solution instead of politicising the concerns of students, he added.
