Opposition leaders reacted to the Prime Minister's midnight video talking about actions being taken by the government to address the paper leak controversy. The Opposition reacted sharply to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rare selfie video posted on social media late Thursday night saying that the cabinet will take up the issue of paper leaks on Friday and discuss a draft bill to check irregularities in examinations.Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, Jairam Ramesh, and Mallikarjun Kharge lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his video addressing reforms to prevent paper leaks. (PTI)Opposition leaders called the Prime Minister's response “hollow” and “desperate” and reiterated that nothing short of Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation would do in light of ongoing nation-wide protests against the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak.What Prime Minister saidIn the video, Modi acknowledged the gravity of the situation and assured listeners of implementing fast-track courts to “ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks”. He also announced that the cabinet will take up the issue in a meeting on Friday followed by the introduction of a new law regarding paper leaks in Parliament next week.The Prime Minister, however, did not make any direct reference to the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), an online satirical movement spearheading the student mobilisation with their demand for education minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.‘Hollow, pathetic’Prime Minister's message drew sharp criticism from Congress, with MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition describing it as a “pathetic midnight video” insulting students' intelligence.“Mr. Modi, our students are demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. Don’t insult their intelligence with this pathetic midnight video. 1. Sack Pradhan. 2. Punish those who beat students. 3. ⁠Apologise,” Rahul Gandhi said on X.Congress general secretary Jairam Rameshsaid that the PM looked “desperate and hassled" breaking his silence on the matter almost two months after the protest started.He further went on to recall the government's initial denial of the 2026 NEET paper being leaked and called back to a similar leak in 2024 as well.Also Read I Nagaland man orders 150 Domino's pizzas on Zomato, worth ₹68,000, for Jantar Mantar protesters: ‘Least I could do'“The Pradhan Mantri’s lack of commitment to accountability is evident from his failure to even mention the student protests or the brutality unleashed on them by his police forces on 20th July,” he wrote in a post on X.Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also reacted to the video and wrote, “When Parliament is in session, the Prime Minister has to give a Statement on the floor of Parliament, not make a one-sided “Mann Ki Baat” outside Parliament by recording a video late at night!!”Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, demanded the education minister's resignation and asked the PM to not “insult students' intelligence with this pathetic midnight video".In addition to Pradhan's resignation, Gandhi also asked for action against officers alleged to have engaged in brutality against students during the CJP's July 20 ‘Chalo Sansad’ march.These demands were enumerated by Gandhi in his July 22 press conference and were also listed by Ramesh and Kharge in their respective social media posts.Former Delhi chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal reacted to Modi's video with a video of his own highlighting the release of the 2024 NEET paper leak accused, labelling the Prime Minister's assurance of a fast track court as “hollow”.Also Read I CJP protest prompts rare selfie message from Modi on paper leak: Here's what PM saidAAP leader Manish Sisodia too criticised PM's message and wrote, “Stuck with the rigidity of the stick, they've landed on ‘Friends’.. Had to release the first video on Instagram at 12 midnight… This is GenZ's dominance, Remove Dharmendra Pradhan, or else who knows what else these kids will be forced to do now…”Mahua Moitra, MP from the All India Trinamool Congress, said that there is “word on the street is Modiji scared now.""Doing damage control. Will set up judicial commission to give report in 3 months & Pradhan will step down pending enquiry. And Jantar Mantar will be cleared by Monday," she wrote.In a separate post, Moitra also asked the Prime Minister to “sack” the education minister.CJP protest continues as Wangchuk breaks fastHours after the Prime Minister's video was shared last night, climate activist and education reformer Sonam Wangchuk broke his 26-day long fast to demand Pradhan's resignation. Wangchuk ended his hunger strike in the presence of union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at the hospital where is he receiving treatment.Also Read I ‘No cases against peaceful July 20 protesters’: Wangchuk shares govt's assurance which made him end fastDespite showing relief at Wangchuk breaking his fast after concerns surrounding his health, the CJP revealed that their protest would continue until Pradhan's resignation. Track live updates hereRepresentatives from the CJP are scheduled to meet the government for talks at 12:30pm today at New Delhi's Constitution Club.Stuti Gupta is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, based in New Delhi, where she is a part of the General News team, tasked with reporting on happenings across the country impacting domestic as well as international ecospheres. In her role at HT, she is responsible for keeping a track of incoming news updates, packaging stories and publishing them in a format best suited to their purpose. She holds a Bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Journalism from St Xavier’s, Mumbai and is partial towards working on international affairs. Apart from her interest in the geopolitical world, she is a keen reader, writer, orator, debater and learner who loves picking up new information. She has been recognized for her previous literary work at the international level with a Gold Finalist, Gold and Silver Award in various participating years at the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition along with winning the third prize and getting her story published in Children’s World in 2017. Barring academic and professional pursuits, she has a passion for travelling to new places, exploring new cultures and cuisines, documenting them through words and pictures and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. She is also an avid enthusiast of studying art forms such as cinema, dance, theatre and music as a tool for cultural storytelling and actively participates in them.Read MoreCongressRahul GandhiPm ModiOppositionGet the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.See Less