The ongoing protest against the NEET paper leak at Delhi's Jantar Mantar has entered its 32nd day today, marking over a month of continuous agitation by students and political groups. Amidst this prolonged standoff, the legal battle has shifted to the Delhi High Court, which is scheduled to hear a petition today regarding the alleged use of excessive force by the police against the protesters. The petition highlights the incidents that occurred during a recent march to Parliament, where security forces reportedly used significant measures to disperse the crowd.
The 32nd Day of Protest and Allegations by CJP
The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), which has been at the forefront of the demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, continues its sit-in for the 32nd consecutive day. Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the Cockroach Janata Party, has leveled serious allegations against the central government, claiming that they've intentionally wasted the time of the protesting students, while dipke stated that their delegation was initially called for talks but was subsequently placed under house arrest at the residence of BJP President JP Nadda. Following this incident, Dipke has taken a firm stand, declaring that the protesters will no longer go to the government for discussions. Instead, he demanded that the government representatives must come to Jantar Mantar if they wish to engage in any further dialogue.
Political Heat from Road to Parliament
The NEET paper leak issue has ignited a fierce political storm that stretches from the streets of Delhi to the halls of Parliament. The opposition is aggressively cornering the government, demanding a dedicated debate on the matter. While the government maintains that it's fully prepared for a discussion within the house, the opposition continues its protests on the streets. Several high-profile opposition leaders have visited Jantar Mantar to express solidarity with the students. Uddhav Thackeray, who reached the protest site late at night, criticized the government's attitude, alleging that the current administration doesn't have the best interests of the students at heart. Similarly, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has vowed to continue the protests until all the demands of the students are met by the government, while in response, the government has accused the opposition of misleading the public despite the strict actions being taken in the case.
Government Outreach to Sonam Wangchuk
In a significant move to break the deadlock, the government has initiated talks with activist Sonam Wangchuk. According to sources, Union Minister Jitendra Singh and JP Nadda met with Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital. Wangchuk was recently discharged from Safdarjung Hospital and is currently admitted to Medanta. This meeting is seen as a major step by the government to resolve the ongoing tension. However, Sonam Wangchuk remains steadfast in his indefinite hunger strike. He's specifically demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the repeated instances of paper leaks in NEET and several other examinations.
The Debate vs. Politics Standoff
The focus now shifts to whether the NEET issue will see a constructive discussion or continue to be a platform for political maneuvering. The government claims it's ready for a debate but accuses the opposition of constantly changing its demands. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who met Rahul Gandhi during a protest in front of the Prime Minister's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, claimed that the Congress leader had initially assured him that the protest would end if the government agreed to a discussion. However, Singh alleged that once the government expressed its readiness, Rahul Gandhi retracted his stance and added a new demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. This has led to expectations of a stormy session in Parliament today, with the Congress likely to push for a formal discussion, potentially leading to a heated exchange between the treasury and opposition benches.
Unity Between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav
The protests have also highlighted a growing proximity between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav. Despite the friction between Arvind Kejriwal's party and the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and Congress have presented a united front ahead of the UP elections, while both Rahul and Akhilesh have been vocal in their criticism of the government. During a major demonstration last Tuesday, the Samajwadi Party provided full support to Rahul Gandhi as they collectively protested on the streets, leading to significant chaos and subsequent detentions of several leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav.
Widespread Protests in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
The ripples of the Delhi protests were felt strongly in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Following the detention of Akhilesh Yadav and other SP MPs in Delhi, Samajwadi Party workers staged protests across various districts in UP, including Lucknow, Mainpuri, and Sitapur, on Tuesday evening. In Lucknow, Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey led supporters onto the streets, raising slogans against the central government. Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, the Congress party protested against the detention of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Congress MLAs staged a sit-in outside the Chief Minister's office in Bhopal, and State Congress President Jitu Patwari was detained by the police while attempting to march towards the Raj Bhavan.
Dharmendra Pradhan's Counter-Attack
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who had remained relatively quiet, finally broke his silence with a post on X. He launched a sharp attack on Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of shamelessly using students as political tools to disrupt the Monsoon Session of Parliament. Pradhan criticized the decision to protest outside the Prime Minister's residence, stating it caused public inconvenience and ignored security protocols. He emphasized that the government is 100 percent committed to discussing the NEET issue and addressing every genuine concern of the youth in the house, but accused the Congress of choosing political theatrics over democratic debate.
High Court Hearing on Police Action
The legal aspect of the protest will be addressed today by the Delhi High Court. A petition was filed challenging the Delhi Police's actions during Monday's march to Parliament, alleging the use of excessive force against the demonstrators. While the petitioner sought an immediate hearing, the bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tejas Kariya declined the request for an urgent listing, advising the petitioner not to drag the court into such matters unnecessarily, while the bench has listed the case for a formal hearing this Wednesday, where the conduct of the police and the rights of the protesters will be scrutinized.