22 July,2026 08:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Anna Hazare said that asking a minister to resign over administrative failures would not weaken the government. File Pic/PTI
Social activist Anna Hazare has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to open talks with students protesting over alleged examination irregularities.
In his letter, Hazare said the reports of violence and police action during the ongoing protests in Delhi were "deeply distressing". He stressed that dialogue, rather than confrontation, is the best way to resolve differences in a democracy, reported the PTI.
Hazare said that asking a minister to resign over administrative failures would not weaken the government. Instead, he argued, it would demonstrate that ministers are accountable for the performance of their departments.
He said such a step would send a clear message that those who fail to fulfil their responsibilities could be required to step down, making the government more accountable and effective.
According to the PTI, the veteran activist said millions of young people across the country were worried about issues including examination paper leaks, delays in recruitment and unemployment.
According to Hazare, these concerns should not be treated simply as law-and-order matters but recognised as genuine public grievances that deserve a meaningful response.
Referring to the NEET examination, Hazare noted that allegations of question paper leaks and other irregularities had surfaced in 2024 and that similar concerns had emerged again this year when around 2.2 million students appeared for the examination, the news agency reported.
He also referred to media reports claiming that several students had died by suicide amid despair linked to examination-related issues and alleged irregularities in re-examination results.
Hazare argued that when scandals or irregularities emerge, responsibility is often placed on lower-level officials while senior decision-makers avoid accountability, as per the PTI.
He said the ultimate responsibility should rest with those holding the highest positions in government and administration.
Hazare said students and parents had been protesting peacefully for more than three weeks, demanding the resignation of education minister over the alleged examination irregularities.
He also expressed concern that activist Sonam Wangchuk had been removed from his protest site without meaningful discussions, adding that no senior government representative had engaged directly with the protesters during the agitation, PTI reported.
Concluding his letter, Hazare urged the Prime Minister to view the protesters' demands as the voice of concerned citizens rather than political opponents.
He appealed to the government to listen patiently, build trust and resolve the dispute through constructive dialogue in keeping with Gandhian principles and democratic values, the news agency reported.
The protests, led by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) and supported by student groups and opposition parties, have continued since June 20, with demonstrators seeking accountability over alleged examination irregularities, reforms to the education system and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Activist Sonam Wangchuk has said he will continue his indefinite hunger strike until concrete assurances on accountability or parliamentary action are provided.
(with PTI inputs)
