kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, July 31: Reiterating the government's commitment to safeguarding the interests of students, West Bengal Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh on Friday asserted that the welfare of students remains the administration's highest priority. Addressing mediapersons, the minister said that both the government and the courts have made it explicitly clear that no action will be taken against individuals below the age of 18. However, he warned that anyone found to have knowingly committed criminal acts would face legal consequences in accordance with the law.

Speaking to reporters, Ghosh said, "The government had already announced, and the court has also made it clear, that no action will be taken against those who are below 18 years of age. But if anyone has knowingly committed an offence, then the law will take its own course. The government has repeatedly stated that the interests of students are paramount. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to everyone to maintain peace. Despite that, those who vandalised government property and attacked police personnel will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law."

The minister maintained that while the government remains sensitive towards the future and welfare of students, it cannot overlook incidents of violence carried out under the guise of protests. According to him, maintaining law and order is equally important, and acts such as destruction of public property or assaults on law enforcement personnel cannot be justified. He stressed that the administration would continue to distinguish between innocent students and those who deliberately engage in unlawful activities.

Turning his attention to the controversy surrounding examination paper leaks, Dilip Ghosh criticised opposition parties for what he described as selective outrage. Referring to Punjab, he alleged that examination papers had been leaked on three occasions in the state, where, according to him, the government is being run under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. He questioned why those incidents had not generated the same level of criticism and political protests.

"In Punjab, where Arvind Kejriwal is running the government through the Chief Minister, examination papers have been leaked three times, yet no one is speaking about it. Those who created the biggest uproar over such issues are now delivering emotional speeches. Everyone is being brought under the ambit of accountability. Now it is the turn of the top leaders who instigated these incidents. They, too, will not be spared," Ghosh said.

The minister further reacted to the Congress party's protests over the alleged NEET examination paper leak. He argued that leaders who are currently raising their voices against the issue had themselves witnessed multiple paper leak incidents during their own tenure in power. Ghosh claimed that examination paper leaks had occurred repeatedly during Congress governments, both at the Centre and in various states, and questioned why those incidents had not attracted similar levels of public outrage or political mobilisation.

"Those who are speaking the loudest on this issue today should first look back at their own tenure, when examination paper leaks also took place. During Congress rule, both at the central and state levels, how many times did such incidents occur? Why is the demand being raised only for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan? How many times have examination papers been leaked in West Bengal? Was there any investigation or protest at that time? If necessary, we will conduct an investigation and bring everything into the public domain," the minister said.

Dilip Ghosh reiterated that the government's position remains consistent on two fronts—protecting the interests and future of students while ensuring that individuals responsible for violence, vandalism, or any criminal offence are held accountable under the law. He also asserted that accountability would extend beyond those directly involved in such incidents to include anyone found to have played a role in provoking or encouraging unlawful activities. According to the minister, the government remains committed to maintaining peace, ensuring justice, and taking all necessary legal steps wherever required.