Mumbai students protest NEET paper leak, demand Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation

The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Thursday at Azad Maidan. PICS/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI

The youth of Mumbai, along with student organisations, joined the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led protest on Thursday at Azad Maidan against the paper leak incidents while also demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG exam. The protesters were seen with banners criticising the lack of action taken after the alleged leak of the NEET paper earlier in May.

mid-day spoke to some students, who expressed their strong support for the movement led by the CJP and activist Sonam Wangchuk [in Delhi], who has been on a hunger strike for the last 19 days as part of the protest.

Protesters speak

Prithvi Thombre, a protester, said, "My friends and I have been here at the protest since noon, and it is purely to show solidarity to those who have suffered due to the [NEET] paper leak. We are all getting ignored, and it's disturbing. The authorities need to listen to us and take some action. We don't want Sonam Wangchuk dying in this process." Thombre's friend Soumitra Kolap, who was also at the protest, said, "We are here in support of what started in Delhi because we want change."

Voices

Palak Moily, an undergraduate student
‘My best friend has been suffering through all these challenges. I am already in my second year, and she has just given her third NEET attempt in May. She was confident, and the news of the paper leak broke her. She studied and attempted the ReNEET, but it didn't go well. Why did she have to suffer for something that those in the testing system did?'

Ritisha Singh, a student and protester
‘It is not believable that kids could've leaked the paper; it is definitely someone in the system. Now, instead of an inquiry, we are seeing ignorance'

Karthikeyan Vishwanathan, a student and protester
‘I had to gather up the courage and tell my mother that I couldn't give the NEET paper again. I told her that I would kill myself under pressure; they heard me and understood me. Not everyone is lucky enough. Our society is still very closed-minded; there are still parents who want their kids to be doctors or engineers. They don't understand what their kids go through. This time it was the NEET papers. Who will give us the assurance that a paper like JEE will not leak? It is high time that we need accountability towards the students in this country'