NEET Irregularities: Youth Congress Attempts BJP Office Siege, Police Use Lathis
Protesters Demand Amit Shah’s Resignation Over NEET Row and Student Suicides
Bengaluru, August 30: The Karnataka Youth Congress on Sunday staged a protest against alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and the series of student suicides, demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The protesters attempted to march towards the BJP office at Malleshwaram, following which police detained several Youth Congress workers and students and later released them.
Hundreds of protesters gathered near the BJP office and raised slogans against the Centre, accusing the government of failing to address concerns surrounding the NEET examination and putting the future of lakhs of students at risk.
“Peaceful protest is a constitutional right”
The protest turned tense when police used lathis to disperse the demonstrators who were attempting to move towards the BJP office. The Youth Congress condemned the police action, maintaining that the protest was peaceful and focused on seeking accountability over issues affecting students.
Karnataka Pradesh Youth Congress Committee president H.S. Manjunath said the police action was an attempt to suppress the protesters’ democratic rights.
“In a democracy, peacefully protesting is a constitutional right of every citizen. The lathi-charge against Youth Congress workers who came to the streets seeking justice for students and their future is highly condemnable and a cowardly act,” Manjunath said.
He further alleged that the police action was intended to prevent the protesters from raising questions about the NEET issue.
“Lathi-charge was used to hide the truth and silence the voice of the people,” he said.
Youth Congress seeks accountability over NEET
The protesters accused the Central government of failing to protect students from the consequences of irregularities surrounding the medical entrance examination. They said the government’s handling of the issue had caused distress among students and demanded that those responsible be held accountable.
The demonstration was also aimed at drawing attention to the reported suicides of students and the concerns of NEET aspirants, with protesters insisting that the government must take responsibility for safeguarding students’ future.
Indian Youth Congress national secretary Tariq Bagawan was among those who took part in the protest. Thousands of Youth Congress office-bearers and students participated in the demonstration.
Police detained the protesters during the attempted march towards the BJP office and subsequently released them.
