Students stage protest in Shimla, seeking education minister’s resignation over NEET paper leak
Students stage protest in Shimla, seeking education minister’s resignation over NEET paper leak
Shimla, July 20,
A group of students staged a dharna at the Naaz area of Shimla on Monday demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and expressing solidarity with the ongoing protests led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and social reformer Sonam Wangchuk’s fast at Jantar Mantar.
The protesters, mostly aged between 15 and 19 years, gathered with placards and raised slogans seeking accountability for the alleged paper leak and reforms in the examination system. The demonstration remained peaceful.
Several placards carried by the students stated that the protesters were not affiliated with any political party and considered themselves independent voices. They asserted that their movement was driven by concern for students and the future of education rather than by political interests.
Addressing the gathering, the students said the protest was not merely about the NEET paper leak but also about protecting democratic values. They alleged that repeated examination irregularities had shattered the confidence of students and their families while placing an enormous financial and emotional burden on aspirants preparing for competitive examinations.
The protesters claimed that many parents had invested their savings in their children’s education, while several students had suffered severe mental stress following the controversy. They said the movement sought justice for affected aspirants and stronger safeguards to ensure fairness and transparency in future examinations.
The students also expressed support for the ongoing agitation at Jantar Mantar, claiming that attempts to curb the protest had triggered demonstrations in different parts of the country.
They maintained that young people were increasingly joining the movement to stand with students and families affected by examination irregularities and called for comprehensive reforms to restore public confidence in the country’s education system.
Meanwhile, similar protests were held at Kullu, Mandi and Solan where CITU and several other organisations extended support to Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike and the agitation by students in Delhi.
Addressing the gathering at Seri Munch in Mandi, CITU district general secretary Rajesh Sharma demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him morally responsible for the crisis in the education system.
The protesters sought an impartial investigation into the NEET paper leak, dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA), and the establishment of a transparent and accountable examination system. They also condemned the police action against students and protesters at Jantar Mantar, describing it as an assault on democratic rights.
Among those present were Vina Vaidya, Ramesh Guleria, Gopendra Kumar, Surendra Kumar, Praveen Kumar and Deepak.
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