Why did Modi address Gen Z ‘friends’ in a viral reel? Here’s what the BJP had to say about the PM’s outreach to India’s youth | Today’s news
Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed protesters at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar as “friends” in two videos, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday explained why he chose the term for the largely Gen Z crowd and highlighted what the Modi-led government is doing to restore confidence in the country’s education system.
In an Instagram post, the BJP wrote: “Friends… it was not just a message. It was a COMMITMENT. From listening to students’ concerns to introducing stricter laws against paper leaks, PM Modi’s government is working to protect merit and restore confidence in the examination system.”
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PM Modi used the term ‘friends’ to underline his commitment to address student issues and restore confidence in the education system, highlighting the government’s efforts to fight examination irregularities.
The bill proposes stiffer penalties, including up to 10 years in prison, increased fines and the establishment of fast-track courts to speed up trials related to fraud investigations.
The law introduces faster investigations, special task forces and increased penalties for offenders to strengthen the integrity and fairness of public examinations.
Individuals who use dishonest means can face five to ten years in prison and a fine of up to ₹50 million, with organized fraud resulting in longer sentences and higher fines.
The aim of the new law is to protect the interests of students by ensuring a fair examination process, thereby strengthening confidence in their hard work and the integrity of public examinations.
Read also | CJP protests: SC considers independent inquiry into all allegations of police excesses
Center Introduces Anti-Paper Leak Bill: Here’s What We Know
The party’s social media account also shared a series of images suggesting that since PM Modi released the videos and promised strict action against those involved in the paper leak, the Center has proposed a new anti-paper leak law titled “The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) amendment Bill, 2026”.
The amendment introduces strict deadlines, including:
- Completion of investigation within two months
2. Special expressways
3. Completion of court proceedings within three months of the filing of the indictment
4. The appeal should ideally be decided within three months
5. Dedicated special units
6. Extension of the exclusion period to eight years
The post further reiterated that PM Modi used “friends” to address those who had come out in support of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been protesting since June 20 demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the education system, especially after the NEET-UG paper leak incident earlier this year.
Read also | CJP threatens to resume protests if government does not withdraw FIR against students
The post added that Prime Minister Modi, who is a “friend of Generation Z”, promised tougher punishments for those involved in the country’s paper leak. These include:
- Individuals who use fraudulent means face five to ten years in prison and a fine of up to ₹50 lakhs.
2. Persons involved in organized paper leakage syndicates will face a minimum of seven years in prison (extendable to 10 years) and a fine of at least ₹10 million crowns.
3. If service providers or investigative agencies are found to be involved in a paper leak, they may be fined up to ₹5 crore and will be banned for eight years.
4. If it is found that the directors or members of the top management are involved, they face a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment with the possibility of an extension to 10 years together with a fine of ₹5 million crowns.
At the end of the post, BJP shared PM Modi’s message to both the cheaters and the students taking such exams. To cheaters, the Prime Minister said: “Cheating costs more than ever” and to honest students: “Your hard work deserves protection.”
Read also | PM Modi appoints Nandan Nilekani to head high-powered task force on examination reforms
CJP protests
Prime Minister Modi’s message and subsequent formation of a special task force and introduction of the law came after the CJP staged a protest for over a month, starting on June 20, after the NEET-UG paper leak was reported in May, after which several students died by suicide. On 28 June, activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest and started a hunger strike which continued for 26 days before ending in the presence of Union Ministers Jitendra Singh and JP Nadda.
The protest spread to several other states, including Bihar and Maharashtra, after protesting students in Delhi staged a “Chalo Sansad” march on 20 July, coinciding with the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament, after which the Delhi Police resorted to lathi charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
On 25 July, the Center agreed to the protesters’ demand and Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post.
The BJP touted the proposed reforms as proof of the Modi government’s commitment to protecting merit and ensuring fair examinations.
