Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has supported the students’ movement on NEET-UG paper leak. He strongly criticized the police action, internet suspension and use of NSA during the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march and accused the central government of protecting the accused.
Kolkata (West Bengal) [भारत]July 24 (ANI): Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday extended her support to the youth-led protests over the NEET-UG paper leak. He condemned the police action against protesters at the ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on 20 July.
Mamta targeted the center
In an ex-post, Mamata Banerjee criticized the Center for shutting down the internet and imposing the National Security Act (NSA) in areas around Jantar Mantar in the national capital. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief said, “I have stood firmly with the students and their movement since the beginning. Their fight is not just for justice in the NEET scam – it is a fight to protect the future of every young Indian. The brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors by the Delhi Police is deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable. Students were brutally beaten, lathicharged, fired upon with pellet guns and there is only accountability. “Tear gas shells were fired upon demand.”
He further said, “The central government is so scared of a peaceful democratic movement that it shut down internet services in and around Jantar Mantar and imposed the stringent National Security Act (NSA) for precautionary detention of students – who are the future of our nation.”
Delhi Police’s clarification
However, Delhi Police has clarified that the regular quarterly renewal of powers under the National Security Act (NSA) has been wrongly linked to the ongoing CJP protests.
Questions raised on CBI investigation
Mamata also questioned the government after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said that it did not find any evidence to establish the involvement of Sanjeev Kumar alias Sanjeev Mukhiya in the NEET (UG) 2024 paper leak case. He wrote, “The Prime Minister talks about zero tolerance for corruption and promises strict accountability. Yet, just yesterday the CBI said it found no evidence against the alleged kingpin in the 2024 NEET paper leak case. If those accused of ruining the future of lakhs of students continue to evade accountability, then who is the government really saving? Why is it so desperate to save the Education Minister instead of answering the questions being raised by students across the country? Is it?”
with opposition students
The X post further read, “The entire opposition, along with the entire country, stands firmly with our students and youth. I salute every young Indian for their indomitable spirit, unwavering courage and refusal to bow down to lathicharge, intimidation or abuse of state power. India is proud of you all.”
Opposition parties have reiterated their demand for the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. Amid growing demands for resignation, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) delegation this morning.
Government and protesters meeting
After the meeting, JP Nadda told reporters, “The meeting lasted for about two hours. They had three main demands and five reform suggestions for the examinations. We have told them that we will meet them again tomorrow afternoon and tell them about the discussions we had with the government.”
CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka claimed that the government was positive on their other two demands, which include compensation for suicide victims of the NEET leak and not filing any FIR against the protesting students. (ANI)
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