Hora punta: Policía reprime mientras miles se unen a la protesta de Delhi para exigir la renuncia del ministro y más

Thousands of protesters gathered in Delhi on Monday, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over allegations of mismanagement in competitive examinations. The demonstration, organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), turned tense as security personnel deployed tear gas and used batons to disperse crowds at Jantar Mantar, a common site for public protests. Several demonstrators reported injuries during the confrontation, with some alleging that police instructed them to sit down before launching a lathi-charge. A 16-year-old student, who was struck with a baton, questioned whether wishing India well was a mistake. The protest originated from accusations that Pradhan oversaw the mishandling of exams, particularly the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG). The test was initially canceled in May due to allegations of a leaked question paper and later rescheduled for June 21. Results were announced on July 16, but some candidates claimed discrepancies in their answer sheets, suggesting they had been swapped or contained fewer responses than they had submitted. The National Testing Agency (NTA) denied these claims, stating that its records matched the submissions reviewed so far. Protesters traveled from distant states such as Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to participate in the demonstration. Activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been on a hunger strike since earlier in the week, vowed to continue his protest unless he could meet with parliamentary members or be allowed to visit Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital, where he is currently confined. Wangchuk criticized the government for its handling of the situation, describing the treatment of peaceful protesters as brutal. The CJP had planned to march to Parliament to push for Pradhan’s resignation but faced a multi-tiered lockdown to prevent entry into the legislative complex. Despite assurances from Union minister JP Nadda that there would be no further crackdown at Jantar Mantar, protesters reported continued police presence. The group also demanded that Wangchuk be released from the hospital and that compensation be given to families of NEET-UG aspirants who committed suicide following the controversy. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticized the use of force against the protesters, questioning why non-violent demonstrations were met with lathi-charges. He argued that Parliament should serve as a forum for discussing pressing national issues rather than merely functioning as a venue for passing government bills. Tharoor emphasized the need for mutual cooperation between the government and the opposition, stating that the latter would support House proceedings if the former allowed discussions on critical matters. His comments followed the adjournment of both houses of Parliament for two hours due to the unrest. The protests coincided with the death of Tripura’s Director General of Police, Anurag Dhankar, who was found dead at the state police headquarters in Agartala. Preliminary reports suggest that Dhankar, who took charge in May 2025, may have died by suicide, although authorities have not confirmed the cause of death. A case of unnatural death has been registered, and an investigation is underway. Dhankar had previously held senior roles within the state police and had worked with the Central Bureau of Investigation and Border Security Force. The CJP met with Union minister JP Nadda during the protests, seeking assurances regarding the safety of its members and the resolution of their demands. While Nadda reportedly promised no further crackdowns, the protesters remained skeptical, citing ongoing police activity at Jantar Mantar. The political campaign continues to push for dialogue with parliamentary members, insisting that their grievances must be addressed through formal channels. As tensions persist, the situation highlights the growing discontent among students and activists over perceived failures in the administration of crucial examinations. With the NTA maintaining its stance on the integrity of the NEET-UG results, the pressure on the government to respond to the protesters' demands shows no sign of abating.