The NEET paper leak issue is known to have become a national sensation, with the CJP-led agitation forcing Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign. However, in Bihar, the protests once again led to fresh tensions. Students took to the streets again today, demanding the release of those arrested during last month’s agitation and the withdrawal of cases filed against them. Hundreds of students and youth organization activists created a stir by staging a protest in Patna on Tuesday, alleging that the government had promised to withdraw cases against the arrested students and release them, but had failed to honor that commitment.
Students who gathered at Gandhi Maidan in Patna subsequently set out on a rally toward Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s residence. Tensions flared when police blocked the protesters as they reached Income Tax Chauraha. Police stopped the demonstrators about 2 kilometers from the Chief Minister’s residence. As protesters made determined attempts to push forward, the situation turned tense, and police use of water cannons to disperse the crowd proved controversial. Police, however, defended their action, stating that water cannons were used to bring the situation under control only because students had attempted to enter a prohibited zone.
During nationwide protests last month demanding Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation over the NEET paper leak, police had taken around 600 people into custody during a bandh observed in Bihar. Half of them, identified as minors, were subsequently released, but more than 400 reportedly remain in jail. Protesters allege that although the Centre and the state home department had announced during later talks that cases would be withdrawn, this assurance has still not been implemented. Students have demanded that the government release an official list detailing how many students have been released from jail and how many remain in custody. Notably, independent MP Pappu Yadav and state Congress president Rajesh Ram have extended their support to this agitation.
Meanwhile, it is known that Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Depke had earlier warned that fresh protests would be launched if the central government failed to fully meet their demands. He had stated that the resignation of the Education Minister addressed only one of their key demands, while several other issues remained unresolved. Notably, students launched today’s protest just a day after he specifically warned that they would not hesitate to agitate again if cases against students were not withdrawn.