Hazaribagh, July 24: The Congress and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) on Thursday staged separate protests in Hazaribagh against the alleged police crackdown on students in Delhi, the NEET paper leak controversy and the reported detention of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, intensifying the Opposition’s attack on the Centre over the issue.
Congress workers organised a day long sit in demonstration at the Hazaribagh Collectorate under the banner of the “Save Democracy – Student Justice Movement.” Former Jharkhand Minister and Hazaribagh District Congress President Jaiprakash Bhai Patel joined party workers during the protest.
Protesters raised slogans against the Central Government and the Delhi Police, alleging that the voices of opposition leaders, students and youth organisations were being suppressed.
“Efforts are being made to suppress the voices of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress MPs, opposition leaders, and student and youth organisations,” Congress leaders said during the protest.
Describing the developments as an assault on democratic institutions, the party asserted that it would continue its campaign in defence of constitutional values.
“This is an attack on democratic values, and the Congress will continue to fight to protect democracy and constitutional rights,” the party leaders said.
In a separate demonstration, the JMM Hazaribagh District Committee burned an effigy of the Central Government at the district crossing to protest against the alleged lathicharge on students at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
JMM workers raised slogans against the Central Government and the Union Education Minister, accusing the Centre of failing to ensure transparency and accountability in the examination system.
“The use of force against students is against democracy and should be strongly condemned,” JMM leaders said.
The ruling party in Jharkhand also demanded the resignation of the Union Education Minister, holding him morally responsible for the alleged NEET paper leak and recurring irregularities in competitive examinations.
“The Union Education Minister should resign, taking moral responsibility,” JMM leaders said.
Alleging repeated failures in managing the education system, the party said incidents of examination paper leaks had become frequent under the present dispensation.
“The Central Government has failed to manage the education system, and incidents like paper leaks are occurring repeatedly,” the leaders alleged, demanding strict action against those responsible for the alleged irregularities.
The protests in Hazaribagh come amid escalating political tensions over the NEET controversy, with Opposition parties across the country stepping up demands for accountability and action against those responsible for the alleged examination irregularities.
