Student organisations affiliated with the Left staged a protest march in Kolkata on Friday, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET paper leak. The demonstrators also called for the dissolution of the National Testing Agency (NTA) and sought justice for students who they claimed were subjected to police action during protests in Delhi.

Sealdah to Esplanade march draws student protesters

The rally, which received police permission, began at Sealdah and concluded at Esplanade in central Kolkata with thousands of protesters, or rather students, or GenZ people. The demonstration formed part of a wider nationwide movement against alleged irregularities in the NEET medical entrance examination.

Participants carried creative placards and raised slogans against the Union education minister while demanding that the NTA be disbanded. Protesters also voiced support for students who they alleged faced police excesses during demonstrations in the national capital.

“We demand Pradhan’s resignation and a clear education system”

Plenty of student protesters raised slogans such as “Inquilab Zindabad”, “Bharat Mata ki Jay”, and also sang songs like Maa tujhe Salam and the Indian national anthem in chorus. Students were holding photos of Bhagat Singh, B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

Sayed Mondal, who came from Bosepukur, feels that the central government (BJP) needs to take accountability of the NEET exam paper leaks along with the 21 students who have committed suicide for this mishap.

“I feel that the BJP government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan should take accountability of this entire scandal, along with apologising to the families of the students who had to commit suicide due to the paper leak,” Mondal said to News Ei Samay.

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“We want Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to resign, as he is clearly a failure in carrying out his duties. Back in 2024 there was also localized question paper leaks of NEET-UG, and a controversy of grace mark dispute came up. Thus clearly Pradhan has failed in his tasks. So we all are here today to seek educational reformation for our students,” Ahmed added.

Veteran singer Moushumi Bhowmick was also a part of the protest. When asked by News Ei Samay about how she felt after taking part in the protest, she proudly said, “This is the power of the youth. I feel very proud to be a part of today’s protest. This protest rally is also for the education rights of our future students,” she said.

“The system we all can see is totally rotten from the core. But to put a stop to all these atrocities, a strong revolution is needed. Hence, we all can see a crowd of protestors today here,” she further added.

A protestor holding a photo of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
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A protestor holding a photo of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose | File Image/NES

Apart from these, young generation protestors were dressed up in different costumes of superheroes, clearly depicting their own way of protest. Some were dressed as Spiderman, while some were dressed as Deadpool. People also wore the famous mask from the film “V for Vendetta.”

Cockroach Janta Party of Kolkata called the protest

The march also marked the Kolkata debut of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The group had initially planned a separate rally from College Square to Esplanade but eventually merged with the Left students’ procession after it did not receive permission for an independent march.

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Dedipya Ganguly, who identified himself as a CJP member, had written to Kolkata Police requesting permission to organise a rally “in solidarity with Shri Sonam Wangchuk’s hunger strike”. After receiving no response, the group decided on Thursday evening to participate in the larger student march instead.

A protester holding a copy of the Indian Constitution at the rally
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A protester holding a copy of the Indian Constitution at the rally | File Image/NES

“We shall conduct the programme peacefully and strictly adhere to all directions issued by Kolkata Police,” Ganguly said in the email sent to the police requesting permission.

Common demands over NEET and student protests

The CJP has been leading demonstrations over the alleged NEET paper leak across the country. In Kolkata, its demands aligned with those raised by the Left student organisations, including the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, the dissolution of the NTA, and justice for students who they alleged faced police brutality during protests in Delhi.

The latest protest comes days after students of Jadavpur University organised a separate march that saw the participation of hundreds of students and parents. That demonstration sought education reforms, greater accountability, and Pradhan’s resignation. Organisers had also described it as a show of solidarity with the CJP’s Parliament march in Delhi and a protest against the alleged police action on demonstrators.

FAQs

Why did students protest in Kolkata over NEET?

Students protested over the alleged NEET paper leak, demanding education reforms, the dissolution of the NTA, and Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation.

Where was the NEET protest held in Kolkata?

The protest march began at Sealdah and concluded at Esplanade after receiving police permission.