A protest march against the alleged NEET paper leak organized by the Socialist Student Association of India, the student wing of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was halted by police outside the RJD state headquarters in Patna. The organizers reported the participation of hundreds of students and youths in the demonstration. When the protesters tried to leave the RJD office premises, they were blocked by a large police contingent at the main gate, leading to tensions between the demonstrators and the administration.
Student leaders criticized the police intervention, labeling it a breach of democratic rights and freedom of expression. They emphasized that the movement aimed to address concerns regarding the alleged irregularities in the NEET examination process and safeguard the future of students. The protesters chanted slogans such as “Stop the paper leaks,” “Stop playing with the future of students,” and “Ensure transparency in the education system.”
During the protest, some demonstrators burned effigies of the Prime Minister and the Union Education Minister as a form of protest. Leaders of the Socialist Student Association of India highlighted that the issue went beyond a single examination and directly impacted the credibility of the country’s education system and the future of millions of young aspirants. They cautioned that without serious attention to their demands, the agitation could escalate into a larger mass movement.
Several senior RJD leaders and party members attended the protest, including RJD state president Mangani Lal Mandal, RJD national vice president Uday Narayan Chaudhary, former Lok Sabha MP Ali Ashraf Fatmi, Binu Yadav, chief spokesperson Shakti Singh Yadav, and Ejaz Ahmed, alongside numerous student leaders and youth activists. The controversy arose following allegations of irregularities in the NEET UG 2026 examination held on May 3 this year. The exam conducting authority canceled the test in response to the accusations.
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is among India’s most competitive entrance exams, serving as the gateway for admission to MBBS and other medical courses. This year, approximately 23 lakh candidates appeared for the exam. The government has now assigned the investigation into the alleged paper leak to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
