Tension escalated in Jaipur when Congress workers clashed with police while protesting the alleged NEET paper leak on Thursday. The clash occurred as protesters marched towards the BJP headquarters, with police using water cannons and barricades to halt their progress. The confrontation took place near the Martyrs’ Memorial area close to the Police Commissionerate.
The protest, led by Rajasthan Congress chief Govind Singh Dotasra, saw party workers and senior leaders demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over NEET examination irregularities. Amid the chaos, Congress workers carried Dotasra on their shoulders while being sprayed with water cannons by the police.
Former minister Pratap Singh Khachariyawas staged a sit-in protest in front of the Police Commissionerate, and former MLA Ved Prakash Solanki faced resistance from police officers during the clash. MLA Manish Yadav also tried to breach police barricades but was prevented and brought down by law enforcement.
The Congress march commenced from the party’s state headquarters and proceeded towards the BJP office via the Martyrs’ Memorial. The protest saw a significant turnout of party members, including women and youth, with some dressed as NEET aspirants to symbolize student discontent over the alleged paper leak. Addressing the protesters, Dotasra criticized the Centre and the National Testing Agency (NTA) for the recurring NEET paper leaks over the past three years, calling for the dissolution of the NTA.
Demanding accountability, Dotasra urged strict action against those responsible for jeopardizing the future of 22 lakh students. He also insisted on a court-monitored investigation into the matter, despite the CBI being assigned the probe by the Centre. Dotasra accused the Union Education Minister of evading responsibility and demanded his resignation.
Police presence remained heavy around the BJP headquarters and Martyrs’ Memorial area to prevent further advancement by protesters. Minor altercations between demonstrators and law enforcement occurred sporadically during the protest.
