Backing the Bill but questioning the government’s credibility, Banerjee said Parliament was debating stricter punishment only because the Centre had failed to safeguard the integrity of public examinations.
“This Bill is not the solution; it is an admission of failure,” he said. Extending the TMC’s support to the legislation, Banerjee said a stringent law was necessary but “cannot be a substitute for accountability”.
“It cannot erase cancelled examinations. It cannot erase broken dreams. It cannot erase the humiliation of lakhs of young Indians. It cannot erase images of students who came seeking justice and were met with barricades and pellet guns instead of compassion,” he said, adding that the government could not use the legislation as a “certificate of innocence”.
Leading the political charge from the Opposition benches, Akhilesh Yadav said the nationwide student protests had shaken the government and compelled it to concede the protesters’ demands, including the resignation of former education minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
“Jab sarkar dar jati hai, ghabra jati hai, to sweekar kar leti hai. Sarkar jhuki aur sweekar kiya (When the government gets rattled, it accepts… the government bowed down and accepted the demands),” Yadav said.Also Read: Prime Minister cancelled Bihar tour realising BJP will lose Bankipur bypoll: Tejashwi Yadav
Calling it an unprecedented movement, the SP chief said it was the first student agitation to receive open support from parents, reflecting the scale of public anger over repeated examination irregularities. He expressed hope that the government would honour the assurances made to the protesters.
