By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Amid lingering protests over alleged examination paper leaks, the Centre on Thursday once again invited agitating students for talks at a time and place of their convenience after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said fast-track courts would be set up to ensure speedy trials in paper leak cases.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said the government remains open to dialogue and has made repeated efforts to engage with protesting students. He said four separate proposals for discussions had been sent to the student representatives over the last 24 hours.
“We have invited our youth friends for talks at any time and at their convenience. The government wants a constructive dialogue to address their concerns,” Singh said, urging students to come forward for discussions instead of continuing the agitation. “I wish to share that in the last 24 hours as many as four offers were made to the students for dialogue. We are still waiting for response,” he said.
The government’s renewed outreach came a day after the Prime Minister chaired a high-level meeting on the examination paper leak issue. The Prime Minister announced a series of measures aimed at restoring the credibility of competitive examinations, including the setting up of dedicated fast-track courts for the expeditious trial of paper leak cases. He also directed agencies to identify and dismantle organised paper leak syndicates operating across states and ensure strict punishment for those involved.
The Centre has maintained that the new measures are intended to protect the interests of honest students and strengthen the integrity of the country’s examination system.
Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has extended support to the protesting students, announced nationwide demonstrations on Friday, accusing the government of using excessive force against students during the July 20 protests. The party alleged that police resorted to “brutality” while dispersing demonstrators and demanded accountability for the action.
Security has been tightened in several cities ahead of Friday’s protests, with authorities appealing to demonstrators to maintain peace and avoid violence.
The examination paper leak controversy has triggered widespread outrage across the country, with thousands of aspirants demanding transparent investigations, tougher action against the masterminds, and comprehensive reforms to prevent future leaks. While the government has reiterated its willingness to engage with students, the protests show little sign of easing as opposition parties continue to back the agitation.