On Thursday, Congress workers staged a march toward the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state headquarters in Jaipur to protest alleged irregularities in the NEET UG medical examination. The police intercepted the protesters at barricades, deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd, and detained several participants.
Protest Details
Carrying posters and placards, the demonstrators, led by Pradesh Congress Chief Govind Singh Dotasra, demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The police action included using water cannons to halt the protesters at Shaheed Smarak. Some party workers climbed over barricades and attempted to cross them.
Congress Leaders' Statements
Addressing party workers before the march, Dotasra alleged that repeated irregularities in the NEET examination had eroded public confidence in the National Testing Agency (NTA). He stated, "The NTA should be dissolved and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should resign." Dotasra asserted that the Central government could not evade responsibility and demanded strict action against those involved in the alleged paper leak. He also called for a CBI investigation under court supervision.
Congress leader Pratap Khachariyawas commented, "'NEET Ka Paper Kaha Milega, BJP Tere Baade Mein'... The BJP is not providing answers and instead tries to divert attention by making Rahul Gandhi the issue. They claim Rahul Gandhi committed betrayal, but those who leak examination papers are the real traitors. Even after the previous paper leak came to light, no responsibility was taken. What will the CBI do? These agencies are under their control. There is massive corruption. Even on social media, they allege that BJP pays people to post in its favor despite the NEET paper leak."
Impact on Students
The Congress claimed that the futures of nearly 22 lakh students had been affected due to the alleged leak. The NEET (UG) exam, held on May 3 for admission to undergraduate medical courses, was canceled two days later amid allegations of a paper leak. The government has ordered a comprehensive CBI inquiry into the alleged irregularities.
