On Tuesday, demonstrations took place in New York in support of students who are protesting alleged irregularities in the NEET exams. Protesters, including members of the Indian diaspora, gathered near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Union Square in New York City, holding placards in defense of the students.
Similar solidarity actions also took place in London. There, demonstrators gathered near the Indian High Commission to support the nationwide movement demanding accountability regarding alleged NEET irregularities and reforms in the Indian education system.
Demonstrators, displaying placards and chanting slogans, expressed their support and called for increased transparency, accountability, and reforms in the country's education and examination system.
Meanwhile, Vanchuk, who continues his hunger strike, was moved from the protest site at Jantar Mantar to Safdarjung Hospital last week. On Tuesday, he was transferred to Medanta Hospital after the Delhi High Court permitted the transfer.
In the meantime, opposition parties have supported Vanchuk's campaign and organized protests in the capital, demanding accountability for the alleged irregularities during the NEET exam.
Student protests have taken place in various regions, including Ladakh, London, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. The actions were organized in support of activist Sonam Wangchuk's hunger strike, which advocates for educational reforms.
For the first time since Wangchuk began his fast, thousands of students marched through Kargil in solidarity with the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)'s campaign. They carried placards with inscriptions such as 'Save merits, save students, save the Nation' and 'We support Sonam Wangchuk.' A candlelit procession took place in Leh, illuminating the central market.
Arif Ali, president of the Ladakh Students Union in Kargil, characterized the protests as peaceful and democratic.
Calls for solidarity reached the United Kingdom, where demonstrations were held in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, and near the Indian Embassy in London. These rallies, organized by SFI-UK, attracted thousands of Indian students and left-wing radical groups. Participants demanded 'responsible, fair, and transparent education' and supported the right of students to peaceful protest.
In Mumbai, eight criminal cases were registered in connection with the CJP protests over three days, leading to the detention of about 900 people, most of whom are students aged 20 to 24. Protesters reported receiving notifications from the police via WhatsApp on Tuesday.
Demonstrations, which gained momentum over the weekend, continued using placards and slogans. In Indore, over 1000 students, along with teachers, parents, and citizens, gathered near the statue of Tantya Bhil to support protesters in Delhi. Sakshi Baheria, who provided food to the protesters, noted that the movement, which started with a small group of students, has evolved into a movement for a fair examination system for all candidates.
In Dehradun, hundreds of people took to the streets demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and the prompt resolution of pending exams and results in Uttarakhand. Police blocked their path near the Secretariat, leading to clashes.
In Vadodara, the police detained nine protesters for holding a demonstration without permission. In Hyderabad, the police detained several protesters associated with the All India Students' Federation during a march against police action against CJP supporters in Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi made statements during a meeting with NDA legislators. These remarks were made a day after thousands of students, led by CJP, participated in the 'Sansad Chalo' march against irregularities in the NEET examination.
On Tuesday, Narendra Modi emphasized that decisive actions have been taken against individuals involved in NEET material leaks so that no one can jeopardize the future of the youth. He also called on states to join forces with the Central Government to combat this issue in the interest of the nation.
Modi made these statements during a meeting with NDA deputies. This meeting took place following a massive student procession organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which was directed against malpractice in the NEET examination and demanded the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju informed journalists after the meeting, dubbed 'Mangal Milan', that the Prime Minister told the deputies that the government had reacted immediately to reports of leaks. As a result, 13 people were arrested and sent to jail.
Rijiju clarified that to ensure the students' future was not affected, the priority became the re-evaluation of NEET, which was successfully conducted, and the results were announced without delay. Furthermore, the Prime Minister noted that strict measures have been adopted to prevent similar leaks in the future.
Modi also addressed the deputies of the ruling coalition, stating that those responsible for the leaks must receive the harshest punishment, with the support of the country's leading lawyers, so that such serious offenses are deterred by example and do not recur.
Reiterating his stance, Rijiju conveyed the Prime Minister's words that strong steps have been taken so that no one plays with the future of the youth. He added that to prevent future leaks, all state and central governments must work together, regardless of political affiliation, as this is a matter of national interest, not party politics.
