Kerala Minister Demands PM Lead Accountability for 90 Exam-Related Student Deaths
Youth Welfare Minister O.J. Janeesh claims 90 students died by suicide following five separate national examination leaks. He argues the Prime Minister must take responsibility for these tragedies beyond the delayed resignation of the Education Minister.
Systemic Failures and the Human Cost of Academic Scrutiny
Kerala’s Minister for Youth Welfare, O.J. Janeesh, asserted on July 26, 2026, that the recent departure of Dharmendra Pradhan from the Union Education Ministry does not resolve the crisis surrounding national examination integrity. Speaking to the press, Janeesh linked the recurring scandals to the deaths of 90 students who allegedly took their own lives out of despair. The Minister insisted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi must provide a direct response to these fatalities and the broader instability of the testing system.
Delayed Accountability Amidst Repetitive Leaks
According to Janeesh, the country has suffered through five distinct instances of question paper leaks. He contended that Pradhan should have stepped down immediately after the initial breach to uphold moral standards. Instead, the Minister argued the administration waited until public anger left them no alternative. "The resignation was deliberately delayed, with Narendra Modi challenging students, youth, and the nation as a whole," Janeesh stated, characterizing the delay as a provocation against the public interest.
Strategic Absence and Movement Autonomy
Addressing internal friction within the political opposition, Janeesh responded to Leftist critics regarding Rahul Gandhi’s absence from the recent Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) demonstrations. He noted that many critics were themselves missing from the protests and explained the Congress party's tactical decision to avoid direct involvement. The Minister detailed the following regarding the movement's structure:
- The protest functioned as a broad-based platform rather than a single-party initiative.
- Direct Congress participation risked rebranding the movement as a partisan effort, potentially diluting its public impact.
- The party provided total support from the periphery to maintain the agitation's non-partisan identity.
Janeesh emphasized that respecting the independent nature of the movement was essential for its success, despite claims from detractors.
Source: The Hindu — News
