NEET row: Hyd police stop students marching to Lok Bhavan

Students trying to march towards Lok Bhavan in Hyderabad on Tuesday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak were stopped and lathi-charged by police, triggering tension.

Raising slogans against the Central government, members of various student organisations attempted to march towards the official residence of the Telangana Governor.

Police stopped them at Khairatabad, leading to an argument between the two sides. As the protestors squatted on the road, they demanded permission to stage a protest in front of Lok Bhavan.

The protesters, carrying placards in support of their demands, claimed that 21 students lost their lives due to the paper leak.

Students Federation of India (SFI) and other student groups alleged that police used lathis to disperse the crowd, assaulted and dragged several protesters, and arrested many of them. They condemned the police action.

They questioned why the Congress government in Telangana was resorting to force against protestors while the same party was condemning police brutalities on protestors in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, a large number of students and youth gathered at Press Club in Somajiguda to show solidarity with those protesting at Jantar Mantar, demanding Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation and compensation of Rs 1 crore each to the families of the 21 students who died after the NEET paper leak.

Students in Hyderabad Central University and Osmania University also staged protests in solidarity with protestors in the national capital.

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

“The Hope of India, Shri Rahul Gandhi, is on protest for the Future of India, seeking resignation of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. Our national president Shri Mallikarjun Kharge ji and Smt Priyanka Gandhi ji are giving courage and extending fullest support to all the youth who are protesting across the country. We are with you, youth of India. Congress ka haath, Yuva ke saath!,” he posted on X.