HYDERABAD: For the second straight day, hundreds of students and members of civil society gathered in Hyderabad on Tuesday to protest against the NEET paper leak and the lathi-charge on demonstrators at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.Gathering at Osmania University, they demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign.Calling for systemic reforms in the country’s education and recruitment processes, they also wanted compensation for the families of students who died by suicide after the NEET test was cancelled.The nearly two-hour demonstration was attended by members of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), Disha Students Organisation, PDSU, SFI, Naujawan Bharat Sabha, and students from the University of Hyderabad, Osmania University and English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU).
Protests and placards
The protesters held up placards that read “Students pe lathi charge nahi chalega”, “Why education reforms? For changing society” and “Jai Samvidhan, Jai Bharat”.Many even came with a copy of the Constitution and chanted slogans demanding justice for students affected by paper leaks and delayed recruitments.“This is essential. Govts have spoken about changing the system for years, but paper leaks continue and students are dying. We pay taxes but nothing changes. Even after working for more than five years, I cannot afford the life my parents built because inflation has eroded purchasing power,” said Chetana Patnaik, a corporate employee.Many participants said they were moved to join the protest after watching videos and reports of the Delhi police action on social media. Others had joined in simply to back students seeking justice.“The demand may have begun with one minister’s resignation, but what happened in Delhi has become a trigger. We were hurt by the govt’s response. Resignation is only the starting point and what we need is change,” said Praneeth, a student from Tarnaka.Many protestors said that repeated exam failures and shrinking govt employment opportunities had shattered the confidence of many youngsters.“A gold medallist from Lucknow reportedly appeared for 30 to 40 govt exams before dying by suicide. People say he didn’tmake the merit list, but this is a systemic issue,” said Rohit Chandra of Naujawan Bharat Sabha.Echoing similar concerns, students Veera and Siyona, who had travelled from Pune, said the issue extended beyond student welfare.“A country’s economic growth depends on its children. If education continues to suffer, it will affect the economy. The NEET paper leak has compromised the integrity of the exam now.”Backing the demand for the Union education minister’s resignation, protestors highlighted that families that had lost loved ones deserved accountability rather than force.“If one person is held accountable, others will work more sincerely. Responsibility must be fixed, and accountability must be decentralised,” said Dr Shaheera Iram, a pediatrician.
