Hyderabad Police Halt Student March Demanding Resignations Over NEET Paper Leak

Hyderabad, July 22: On Tuesday, a group of students attempted to march towards Lok Bhavan in Hyderabad, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy. The police intervened and stopped them.

Chanting slogans against the central government, members of various student organizations tried to march towards the official residence of the Governor of Telangana.

The police halted them in Khairatabad, leading to a heated exchange between both sides. When the protesters sat down on the road, they requested permission to demonstrate in front of Lok Bhavan.

Carrying posters in support of their demands, the protesters claimed that the paper leak had resulted in the deaths of 21 students.

The Students Federation of India (SFI) and other student groups accused the police of using batons to disperse the crowd, physically assaulting several protesters, dragging them away, and making multiple arrests. They condemned the police’s actions.

They questioned why the Congress government in Telangana was using force against protesters when the same party was condemning police brutality against demonstrators in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, a large number of students and youth gathered at the Press Club in Somajiguda. They came together to show solidarity with those protesting at Jantar Mantar. They demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan and compensation of ₹1 crore for the families of the 21 students who lost their lives due to the NEET paper leak.

Students from Hyderabad Central University and Osmania University also protested in support of the demonstrators in the capital.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy stated that the Congress party stands with the youth protesting across the country.

He posted on ‘X’, “India’s hope, Rahul Gandhi, is protesting for the future of India, demanding the resignations of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Our National President Mallikarjun Kharge and Priyanka Gandhi are encouraging all the youth protesting across the country and providing them full support. We are with you, youth of India. Congress’s hand is with the youth!”