Modi Seeks to Calm Anger in Rare Video as India Protests Widen - Bloomberg.com

**Modi Seeks to Calm Anger in Rare Video as India Protests Widen**

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attempted to calm the growing outrage in the country by releasing a rare video address late last night, addressing the ongoing protests sparked by high-stakes examination leaks. In a bid to quell the widespread anger, the Prime Minister assured the nation that swift action would be taken to ensure those responsible are brought to justice and measures are put in place to prevent such incidents in the future. The nationwide protests have been fueled by public disillusionment with a series of exam leaks and the perceived lack of effort by the government to effectively tackle the issue.

Modi's 13-minute address, in which he referred to paper leaks as "no ordinary matter," marked a significant departure from his usual reluctance to engage directly with protests and public discontent. By acknowledging the widespread outrage and promising decisive action, Modi attempted to demonstrate his commitment to addressing the concerns of Indian citizens. However, the sincerity of his intentions will be determined by the tangible measures taken by the government in response to the protests.

As the situation continues to unfold, key developments include the Indian government's plan to toughen rules against paper leaks, with sources indicating that increased jail terms and fines are on the horizon. The Delhi High Court has also designated a fast-track court to expedite the handling of paper leak cases, a move aimed at providing relief to those affected by the leaks. Similar measures have been announced in other regions, including the designating of special courts in Nagpur and Aurangabad to focus on paper leak cases.