'Don't Attack Or Troll Him': Assam CM Himanta After His Minister's Daughter Seen At NEET Protest

Published 26 July 2026 · politics

'Don't Attack Or Troll Him': Assam CM Himanta After His Minister's Daughter Seen At NEET Protest Published By, Last Updated: July 26, 2026, 09:44 IST

'Don't Attack Or Troll Him': Assam CM Himanta After His Minister's Daughter Seen At NEET Protest Published By, Last Updated: July 26, 2026, 09:44 IST Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said parents should not be held responsible for the political beliefs or actions of their adult children. Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed Dibisa Mahanta at NEET protests in Assam. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended his Cabinet colleague Keshab Mahanta after videos purportedly showing the minister’s daughter participating in a protest over alleged NEET examination irregularities went viral on social media. The controversy erupted after Dibisa Mahanta, daughter of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) leader and Assam Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta, was seen at a protest in Guwahati demanding accountability over the alleged irregularities and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

Videos circulating on social media purportedly showed Dibisa Mahanta raising slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and calling for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. News18 could not independently verify the authenticity of the clips. Responding to the controversy, Himanta Sarma urged people not to criticise or troll Keshab Mahanta over his adult daughter’s political views. “I don’t think we should attack or troll Keshab Mahanta for the protest by his daughter. She may not follow her father’s political ideology," the Chief Minister said. Drawing a comparison with his own family, Himanta Sarma said, “Tomorrow when my son practises law, he may defend someone whom I may not like." He said parents should not be held responsible for the political beliefs or actions of their adult children.

At the same time, the Chief Minister said he disagreed with the slogans allegedly raised by Dibisa Mahanta during the protest. “When I meet her next time, I will definitely talk to her about it and try to make her understand that what she said was not right," he said. The protest in Guwahati was organised over the alleged NEET examination irregularities and demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as Union Education Minister. There was no immediate response from Keshab Mahanta over the controversy. Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union Education Minister amid mounting pressure over the alleged NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. The resignation was followed by the CJP withdrawing its 37-day protest after the Centre accepted several of its demands.