Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finally spoken out on the NEET controversy. He said, "Leaking examination papers is a grave sin. Preventing it is the responsibility of the entire nation. Those responsible for the NEET question paper leak must receive the harshest possible punishment. All stakeholders must work together to build a flawless and foolproof examination system so that there is no scope for question paper leaks in the future." Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, whose party the author describes as having lost power and weakened, reportedly said that she would, if necessary, join the protests on behalf of the "Cockroach Party." According to the author, many opposition leaders have entered the fray in an attempt to fish in troubled waters. Warning them, Modi said, "Do not provoke children; instead, guide them onto the right path." Question paper leaks are not new in India. They have occurred under governments of different political parties. However, education has increasingly become a business, and the media has grown much more influential, making the impact of such incidents far greater today. During the BJP's ten years in power, allegations of question paper leaks have surfaced in 152 examinations, a situation that the Prime Minister himself has described as a serious crisis. Is Resignation the Solution? In India, it has become common practice for ministers to face demands for resignation whenever a major incident occurs, often followed by their resignation. But does a minister's resignation truly resolve the problem? Leaving aside older examples, in 2017 BJP Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu resigned following a railway accident. Before demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, should the opposition not acknowledge that the government swiftly cancelled the compromised first NEET examination, conducted a fresh test, published the results, and ensured that students could proceed with admissions? What practical benefit would his removal bring now? The central government has already agreed that the issue will be discussed during Parliament's Monsoon Session and that an all-party decision will be taken to strengthen safeguards against future question paper leaks. Even so, the continued protests, according to the author, suggest that there may be broader political motives. Pro-BJP media outlets have described the movement as a "Deep State" conspiracy. But is that really the case? This Is Not a Deep State Conspiracy The concept of the "Deep State" refers to the belief that behind an elected government operates an unelected, secretive, and powerful network that exercises real control over the state. Such groups are often believed to include senior bureaucrats, intelligence officials, military officers, and influential business elites. They are said to shape or alter government policy in pursuit of their own interests or ideology, bypassing democratic institutions. Simply put, they constitute "a government within the government." The term "Deep State" (Turkish: derin devlet) first gained prominence in Turkey, where, during the late twentieth century, elements of the military, intelligence agencies, and ultra-nationalist groups allegedly formed a covert network. Pakistan's military establishment and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are also frequently described as examples of a powerful deep state. In Egypt, the military's influence extends beyond politics into significant sectors of the national economy. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal as Victims of Deep State Dynamics Political analysts generally interpret Bangladesh's July 2024 movement, Sri Lanka's 2022 Aragalaya protests, and Nepal's recent political instability through two principal lenses: widespread public anger combined with institutional failure, and the possibility of deep state involvement. According to this interpretation: • Bangladesh (2024): Amid mass protests led by students and citizens, the military ultimately sided with the public rather than the ruling government. • Sri Lanka (2022): Economic collapse and severe hardship overwhelmed the Rajapaksa administration, while the security establishment failed to preserve the existing political order. • Nepal: Frequent changes of government and persistent political instability exposed the country's inability to manage the competing diplomatic and political influence of regional powers such as India and China. Why Would a Deep State Conspiracy Fail in India? Unlike Pakistan, Turkey, or Egypt, India does not possess what the author describes as a "classical" deep state. India's military and intelligence agencies have never overthrown an elected government or assumed direct control of the state. The armed forces remain firmly subordinate to civilian authority. According to the author, India's centers of behind-the-scenes influence can broadly be categorized into four groups: 1. Bureaucracy 2. Ideological and cultural forces 3. Corporate-political alliances 4. Investigative and intelligence agencies India, the author argues, remains fundamentally governed through elected representatives and the rule of law. When state officials begin to see themselves as masters rather than public servants and conspire against citizens' rights, such actions amount to treason. The author contends that this is not the situation in India, where an informed civil society and an independent judiciary continue to provide safeguards against such hidden power structures. The Opposition Needs to Understand Modi's Restraint According to the author, the ongoing protests are essentially a politically motivated movement aimed at cornering the government. Sonam Wangchuk continues his hunger strike in hospital, while the "Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)" has made one principal demand: the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also joined the movement and presented a five-point charter of demands to the government. Members of the same group have reportedly staged demonstrations in New York, San Jose, London, and Dublin. The Modi government has so far responded with restraint. BJP workers have reportedly been instructed not to take to the streets, largely because the protests have remained confined to Delhi's Jantar Mantar area. The author concludes by arguing that if Rahul Gandhi interprets the BJP's peaceful and political handling of the protests as a sign of weakness, he would be mistaken. In the author's view, Modi is fully capable of handling such a limited movement. The real question, the author suggests, is whether Rahul Gandhi is capable of understanding the restraint being shown.

Author: Amit Goswami Journalist and Writer, Kolkata