Hundreds of Congress workers and leaders held a demonstration near the residence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini in Kurukshetra on Saturday to protest the NEET paper leak and irregularities in CBSE examinations. The protest was led by Indian Youth Congress national president Uday Bhanu Chib and Congress MP Deepender Hooda.
Protest turns confrontational
The Congress workers marched towards the barricades installed by police, who had deployed heavy forces to maintain law and order. As protesters attempted to cross the barricades, police used water cannons to push them back.
Congress leaders raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of failing to protect the rights and future of young students. They demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Prominent leaders participate
Thanesar MLA Ashok Arora, Shahabad MLA Ramkaran Kala, Congress District President Mewa Singh, Haryana Youth State President Nishit Kataria, and several other youth Congress leaders participated in the protest.
Addressing party workers, Deepender Hooda said unemployment, drug menace, illegal immigration, and crime are rising in Haryana. He accused the BJP government of failing to conduct examinations fairly, alleging that paper leak mafias operate across the country under BJP patronage. "Despite continuous failures, the education minister is not taking responsibility. The government misleads the public and takes no concrete action against officials responsible for lapses," Hooda said.
Hooda further claimed, "The BJP government makes tall claims about giving jobs without 'Kharchi and Parchi', but in reality, it demands 'Kharcha' to leak 'Parcha' (money to leak papers). In every HPSC recruitment, people from other states get majority jobs, forcing Haryana's youth to go abroad through donkey routes."
Detention and next steps
Hooda stated that they wanted a peaceful protest outside the CM's residence but police used force. "We asked police to arrest all congressmen, but they said they had no space for thousands. When we refused to leave, they detained us at the dharna site and later announced release. Congress will continue to raise youth voices strongly. We will raise the issue from streets to parliament."
Congress leaders said the education minister should resign on moral grounds. The next protest is scheduled in Panipat on June 12.
