In a rare move, the opposition YSR Congress Party has expressed support and solidarity with students protesting against the Narendra Modi government over alleged irregularities in national-level competitive examinations, including NEET.
The YSRCP called for transparent investigations into examination-related controversies at both the national level and in Andhra Pradesh.
It also supported the protesters’ demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The protests, led by the Cockroach Janata Party in New Delhi, have intensified during the ongoing Parliament session.
Demonstrators have been demanding Pradhan’s resignation, holding him responsible for the alleged irregularities in NEET and other competitive examinations.
The issue attracted further attention after police used force against students who were marching from Jantar Mantar towards Parliament on Monday, drawing criticism from several quarters.
Reacting to the developments, the YSRCP posted a message on social media on Tuesday, stating that democracy must not only be upheld but must also be seen to be upheld.
The party urged the Union government to handle the student and youth protests in New Delhi with responsibility and sensitivity.
It appealed to governments to listen to the genuine concerns of students and work towards meaningful solutions instead of treating the protests merely as a law-and-order issue.
The YSRCP reiterated that peaceful protest is a fundamental democratic right. At the same time, it urged demonstrators to exercise restraint and ensure that the protests remain peaceful.
Referring to the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, the party said the incident had shaken the confidence of students and parents in the examination system.
It stressed the need for comprehensive reforms to improve transparency, security and accountability in the conduct of competitive examinations.
The party also drew attention to alleged question paper leaks and irregularities in the District Selection Committee recruitment examinations in Andhra Pradesh, claiming that evidence of malpractice had emerged.
The YSRCP said the alleged irregularities in the DSC examinations should not be viewed through a political lens and called for an impartial investigation by an independent agency.
The party maintained that there should be no compromise when it comes to the future of students, whether the issue concerns NEET or the DSC examinations.
It said every democratic government had a responsibility to uncover the truth, correct systemic failures and take stringent action against those found responsible for examination-related irregularities.
