India students protest NEET exam leak, call for Education Minister's resignation

Students across India have gathered at Jantar Mantar and other locations to protest the leak of the NEET examination papers. The protests, organised by groups such as the Cockroach Janata Party, demand the immediate resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, citing systemic failures, suicides linked to the controversy and a loss of public trust. Activists highlighted barriers like the extreme Delhi heatwave and intimidation tactics aimed at discouraging participation.

Parallel to the street demonstrations, the Indian National Congress has launched a nationwide “Chhatron Ki Goonj” (Students’ Echo) campaign. The party plans press conferences in 28 cities, led by senior leaders, to press the same demand for Pradhan’s resignation and to call for broader education reforms, citing issues such as paper leaks, high coaching fees and unemployment among graduates. The campaign seeks to turn the student unrest into a broader political debate ahead of upcoming elections.