Demonstrators Demand Education Minister’s Resignation, NTA Overhaul; CJP Supporters Join Rally After Separate March Denied Permission
By Our Staff Reporter
Kolkata: A protest march against the alleged NEET paper leak and examination irregularities turned tense in central Kolkata on Friday after clashes broke out between Left-affiliated student organisations and police, prompting security personnel to use batons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators.
The confrontation occurred near Dorina Crossing in the Esplanade area after protesters blocked a key intersection, disrupting traffic in one of the city’s busiest commercial districts during working hours. According to police officials, demonstrators allegedly hurled footwear and water bottles at security personnel as efforts were made to clear the road.
A senior police officer said security forces resorted to a mild baton charge and fired tear gas shells after protesters refused to vacate the intersection. Despite repeated attempts by police to restore normalcy, demonstrators continued to occupy parts of the area for several hours.
A heavy deployment of Kolkata Police personnel, the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and central paramilitary forces remained in place to prevent the situation from escalating further.
The protest was organised by Left student organisations as part of a nationwide campaign against the alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET). The rally began at Sealdah in north Kolkata and concluded at Esplanade, where tensions escalated.
Carrying placards and banners, protesters demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, alleging that repeated examination paper leaks had undermined the credibility of the country’s competitive examination system. They also called for the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the NEET examination, and sought justice for students who they alleged were subjected to police action during recent demonstrations in New Delhi.
The protest also drew participation from a section of supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been leading protests over the alleged paper leak controversy. Police said the group had originally planned to organise a separate march from College Square to Esplanade but joined the Left-led demonstration after permission for its proposed rally was not granted.
According to organisers, the Kolkata event marked the CJP’s first public mobilisation in the city.
Dedipya Ganguly, who identified himself as a member of the CJP, had earlier written to Kolkata Police seeking permission to hold a rally in solidarity with the hunger strike of Sonam Wangchuk. After receiving no response from the authorities, the organisation decided late on Thursday to merge with the Left student procession.
Throughout the march, protesters raised slogans against the Union government and reiterated demands for greater transparency in the examination process, accountability for alleged paper leaks and comprehensive reforms in the country’s recruitment and entrance examination system.
Friday’s demonstration came only days after students of Jadavpur University, along with parents and civil society members, organised another large protest in Kolkata over the alleged NEET irregularities. Participants in that march had similarly demanded examination reforms, accountability from the authorities and the resignation of the Union Education Minister. They had also expressed solidarity with the CJP’s Parliament march in New Delhi and criticised the alleged use of force against student protesters in the national capital.
The latest confrontation underscores the widening geographical spread of protests linked to the alleged NEET paper leak controversy, with student organisations in several states continuing to stage demonstrations demanding institutional reforms and greater accountability.
While protesters accused the authorities of suppressing peaceful demonstrations, police maintained that action was taken only after demonstrators blocked public roads and disrupted normal movement in a busy commercial area.
The standoff in Kolkata is expected to add further momentum to the ongoing political debate over examination reforms and the handling of student protests, an issue that has increasingly become a focal point of confrontation between the Opposition and the Centre.