IIT Madras asks student body to delete pro-protest Instagram video

Telangana Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar condemned the police lathi charge on students and youth groups marching toward Parliament in New Delhi on Monday, July 20, 2026, to protest alleged irregularities in the NEET examination. The protest, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), aimed to secure the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Prabhakar criticized the use of force as undemocratic and lamented the lack of response from the central government to the students’ concerns. He highlighted the anxiety caused by the irregularities in the NEET exams, which have affected hundreds of thousands of students and their families. Prabhakar also demanded the resignation of Pradhan, questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the issue, and called for the withdrawal of cases against the protesters. Additionally, he urged action against those responsible for the lathi charge and emphasized the need for greater transparency in the NEET process. The protests escalated as the CJP-led demonstrations grew larger, drawing widespread attention. On Tuesday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the growing unrest, criticizing the government’s handling of the situation. In a press conference, Gandhi accused the administration of operating a “rigged system” and cited 152 instances of examination paper leaks over the past decade, with no convictions recorded. He called for the resignation of both Pradhan and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, arguing that the government had ignored the legitimate grievances of students. Gandhi also denounced the police action against protesters, including the use of lathi charges and tear gas, and urged Prime Minister Modi to apologize to students and implement sweeping educational reforms. His remarks followed his detention during a dharna outside Modi’s residence, where he was reportedly dragged by police and suffered a bloody nose. Despite the personal toll, Gandhi insisted the focus remained on the students’ plight, stating that the government should address the systemic failures rather than the manner in which he was treated. Meanwhile, Odisha’s former Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik joined the chorus of criticism, demanding Pradhan’s resignation due to the alleged examination irregularities and the violent crackdown on protesters. Patnaik described the situation as “very serious” and “very grave,” noting that protests had spread beyond Delhi to multiple cities and even near Indian embassies abroad. He emphasized the need for accountability, stating that the incidents had eroded public trust in the education system and called for immediate reforms. Patnaik also mentioned that BJD MPs had visited hospitals to meet injured students, underscoring the gravity of the physical harm inflicted during the clashes. His appeal for dialogue and transparency echoed similar calls from academics and public figures, who had recently issued an open letter to Modi urging an end to the callous disregard of students and advocating for open discussions with protesters. The government’s response to the mounting pressure came from Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan himself, who dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s claims as politically motivated. In a sharp rebuttal, Pradhan accused Gandhi of exploiting the students’ distress for political gain, asserting that the education system was not rigged but rather subject to normal administrative challenges. He further criticized Gandhi for focusing on the personal treatment of the opposition leader rather than addressing the core issues. Meanwhile, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda countered Gandhi’s allegations of 152 paper leaks by highlighting similar incidents in Opposition-controlled states, questioning the selectivity of the opposition’s outrage. Nadda also accused Gandhi of using the students’ struggles for political mileage, suggesting that the protests were driven by partisan motives rather than genuine reform efforts. As tensions mounted, activist Sonam Wangchuk, who had been on an indefinite hunger strike, expressed readiness to end his fast if the government assured no legal action would be taken against student protesters. Wangchuk, who had been hospitalized in Gurugram, stated that the students had been peaceful in their demonstrations and deserved a platform to voice their concerns. His stance aligned with broader calls for dialogue, as academic and civic leaders continued to urge the government to engage constructively with the protesters rather than suppress dissent. The situation remains volatile, with protests continuing to draw large crowds and political leaders vying for dominance in shaping the narrative around the education crisis. The coming days will likely see further escalation, as the government faces increasing pressure to address the underlying issues fueling the unrest.