In a significant political escalation on Tuesday evening, the Congress party organized a massive protest in Jaipur to voice their opposition against the alleged NEET paper leak and various examination irregularities. The demonstration, which saw a large gathering of party workers and senior leaders, was centered at the Ambedkar Circle. The primary demand of the protesters was the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, whom the party holds responsible for the lapses in the national-level medical entrance examination.
Solidarity with National Leadership
The protest in Jaipur wasn't an isolated event but was organized in direct support of the ongoing demonstrations in the national capital. In Delhi, senior Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge led a high-profile protest outside the Prime Minister's residence. Following the call from the party high command, the Rajasthan unit of the Congress mobilized its forces to mirror the national sentiment against the central government's handling of the NEET controversy. The leaders emphasized that the future of millions of students is at stake due to these repeated paper leaks and administrative failures.
Impact on City Traffic and Police Action
As the crowd of Congress workers swelled at Ambedkar Circle, the local administration had to take strict measures to maintain order. A heavy police force was deployed at the site to manage the situation. The protest Importantly impacted the flow of traffic on the busy Vidhan Sabha Road, forcing the police to implement traffic diversions to prevent a complete gridlock, while during the demonstration, Congress workers raised slogans against the central government, expressing their anger over the examination system's lack of transparency. The situation reached a climax when the police moved in to detain several prominent leaders, including former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee President Govind Singh Dotasra.
Statewide Demonstrations and Effigy Burning
The protest wasn't limited to the state capital of Jaipur, while following the instructions of the state leadership, Congress workers organized similar demonstrations across all district headquarters in Rajasthan. These protests involved the burning of effigies and sit-ins to highlight the grievances of the student community. The date of 21 July marked a coordinated effort by the party to bring the issue of NEET irregularities to the forefront of the political discourse in the state. The detention of top leaders like Gehlot and Dotasra has further intensified the political atmosphere in Rajasthan, as the party continues to demand accountability from the central authorities.