The ongoing student-led agitation over the alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities gathered further political momentum on Thursday, with representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) reiterating that the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains their primary and “non-negotiable” demand. Protest leaders also levelled serious allegations against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the police, claiming attempts were being made to derail what they described as a peaceful movement.
Addressing the media, CJP representative Abhijeet Dipke alleged that individuals from outside the protest site were being brought in to deliberately create disturbances and tarnish the image of the demonstrators. According to Dipke, the protest had remained peaceful for nearly a month, and incidents of violence surfaced only after the movement began attracting wider public attention.
He alleged that BJP workers were attempting to provoke unrest by pelting stones and creating disorder, claims that have not been independently verified. Dipke further accused the police of failing to prevent the disturbances and claimed that the handling of the demonstrations had raised serious concerns among the protesters.
The CJP leader also strongly criticised the police action during the protest, describing the lathi charge on demonstrators as “brutal.” He said the organisation intends to pursue legal action against the police personnel allegedly involved, arguing that the protesters had been exercising their democratic right to peaceful assembly.
Meanwhile, CJP chief spokesperson Saurav Das reaffirmed that the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan remains the central demand of the agitation. He described the demand as “non-negotiable” and asserted that the movement would continue until the government responds to the concerns raised by students and protest organisers.
The agitation has also drawn attention because of the continued hunger strike by education reform campaigner Sonam Wangchuk. According to the protest organisers, Wangchuk’s fast has entered its 26th day, while the broader protest has now continued for 34 days. CJP leaders said they have appealed to Wangchuk to end his fast in view of his health, but maintained that the larger campaign for accountability would continue until their demands are addressed.
The demonstrations are part of the wider public response to the controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG examination process, which has sparked nationwide concern among students, parents and education stakeholders. Protesters have argued that restoring confidence in India’s competitive examination system requires greater transparency, accountability and institutional reforms.
The Centre, however, has maintained that the issue should be addressed through democratic and institutional mechanisms. Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda recently stated that the alleged paper leak is a matter of serious concern affecting millions of students and should not be reduced to a political contest. He reiterated that the government is prepared for a comprehensive discussion in Parliament to examine every aspect of the controversy and explore long-term measures to strengthen the integrity of the examination system.
As the protests continue, the confrontation reflects the growing public debate over accountability, examination reforms and the need to safeguard the credibility of one of India’s most significant national entrance examinations.
Web Generated News Report.
