NEET outrage goes national: Protests erupt across states backing Jantar Mantar stir
Protests over the NEET-UG paper leak spread across several states on Friday as students, political activists and civil society groups rallied in support of the
Protests over the NEET-UG paper leak spread across several states on Friday as students, political activists and civil society groups rallied in support of the Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) agitation at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, renewing demands for Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation and action over the police crackdown on protesters. The demonstrations were reported from Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow, Bhopal, Chandauli, Jodhpur, Buldhana and Katihar, with protesters raising slogans against the Centre and calling for accountability over the NEET paper leak and the July 20 police action at Jantar Mantar. Read Full Story HYDERABAD, MUMBAI AND KOLKATA SEE PROTESTS In Hyderabad's Old City, residents, including students and senior citizens, staged demonstrations at Hussaini Alam and Musa Bowli, demanding the resignations of Pradhan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what they described as the Centre's failure to ensure a fair and transparent examination process. In Mumbai, hundreds of students and youths gathered at Shivaji Park for a programme that included the singing of the national anthem.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, MP Sanjay Raut, comedian Kunal Kamra and several public figures joined the event. A separate protest in Chembur expressed solidarity with the CJP agitation and condemned the alleged lathi-charge on students in Delhi while extending support to activist Sonam Wangchuk. In Kolkata, protesters blocked the busy Esplanade crossing for nearly an hour, bringing traffic to a standstill before additional police personnel were deployed to restore normalcy. LUCKNOW, CHANDAULI WITNESS POLICE ACTION In Lucknow, demonstrations were held at Parivartan Chowk and outside Lucknow University, where students demanded Pradhan's resignation. As protesters attempted to march towards Hazratganj, they clashed with police, following which several students were detained. In neighbouring Chandauli, hundreds of students and youth marched through Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar, raising slogans against the Centre and demanding the Education Minister's resignation. Heavy police deployment was made in view of the protest. PROTESTS IN BHOPAL AND JODHPUR In Bhopal, a group of NEET aspirants condemned the violence against protesters at Jantar Mantar but also distanced themselves from incidents of vandalism.
They alleged that anti-social elements had infiltrated the movement and said genuine NEET aspirants supported strict action against those responsible for the paper leak but not violence. In Rajasthan's Jodhpur, students staged a sit-in outside the Collectorate after being denied permission to hold a larger protest. Youth Congress workers also demonstrated outside the Collectorate, demanding Pradhan's resignation and condemning the alleged police action against students in Delhi. SILENT MARCH IN BULDHANA, CRACKDOWN IN KATIHAR In Maharashtra's Buldhana, students and residents wearing black armbands and carrying the national flag took out a silent march before submitting a memorandum to the President through the district administration. The memorandum sought action against police personnel involved in the alleged lathi-charge, withdrawal of cases against protesting students, Rs 1 crore compensation for the families of students who died by suicide, and stricter anti-paper leak laws. Meanwhile, in Bihar's Katihar, police intensified action following violence during a protest earlier this week.
The BriefWire