Students protest in Assam's Goalpara over NEET paper leak, demand Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation
Students staged a protest in Assam's Goalpara district against the alleged NEET paper leak, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and alleging that the examination controversy has devastated the lives of several aspirants.
The protesters claimed that the alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) had pushed Rima Begum, a student from Krishnai in Goalpara district, into severe despair, leading her to die by suicide on June 8.
Holding demonstrations parallel to the protests at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, the students condemned what they described as corruption in the country's education system and demanded accountability from the Centre.
However, the protest programme was interrupted by the district administration, which reportedly stopped the demonstration, citing the absence of prior permission.
The students alleged that they had applied for permission through legal channels but could not obtain approval in time due to delays in the administrative process.
Addressing the gathering, the protesters demanded the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, holding him morally responsible for the alleged lapses in conducting the NEET examination.
They further alleged that the deaths of students, including Rima Begum and others reportedly linked to the NEET controversy, should not be viewed merely as suicides but as consequences of systemic failures and administrative negligence.
The protesters also demanded that the government acknowledge responsibility for the alleged failures and provide adequate compensation to the families of affected students.
The NEET examination has been at the centre of nationwide protests following allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities, with students across the country demanding a transparent investigation and reforms to restore confidence in the medical entrance examination process.
