NEET Row: Students Marching To Parliament Detained, Demand Pradhan's Resignation

Students are calling for the dissolution of NTA and the resignation of Minister Dharmendra Pradhan amidst the NEET controversy.

Delhi police detains students marching towards Parliament. (Photo: Special Arrangement)

Amid controversies surrounding the NEET UG Exam, students marched towards Parliament on Tuesday demanding the abolition of the National Testing Agency and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

"Delhi police violently detained the students as they were marching towards Parliament! From pulling clothes to destroying things, the Delhi police are doing everything to stop students from standing up for their rights. Despite this, students will continue their fight. Tomorrow, we will surround Parliament. Our demands are for NTA to be scrapped and for Dharmendra Pradhan to resign," stated Prasenjeet Kumar, National General Secretary of AISA.

On Tuesday, student organisations from the INDIA bloc, including NSUI, AISF, and AISA, announced nationwide demonstrations on July 3 to protest against irregularities by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

NSUI President Varun Chaudhary, speaking at a joint press conference of INDIA alliance partners, outlined three key demands: dissolution of the NTA, resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and a re-conduct of the NEET exam.

"We want the government to disband the NTA. We want Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to take responsibility and step down. The third thing we want is that NEET to be held again," Varun Chaudhary said.

"If there has been no bribery, Dharmendra Pradhan must come out and clarify it. Why is he silent? Why does he continue to remain quiet?," Chaudhary added.

Viraaj Devang, President of the All India Students' Federation (AISF), restated the three demands and criticised the government for allegedly designing an education system aimed at marginalising disadvantaged groups. He urged the government to safeguard the future of the nation's students.

"The NEET-like entrance exam should be removed. NTA scams and issues should not be viewed in isolation. The agenda seems to be to exclude backward people from the education system. I urge the government not to play with the future of the students of this country," Devang said.