NT Reporter
Ponda
The Ponda Block Congress Committee, along with a large group of students, on Friday organised a protest at Kranti Maidan against the alleged NEET paper leak and other examination irregularities, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and comprehensive reforms to the national examination system.
The protest, held under the theme ‘Stop Injustice, We Want Justice’, was
attended by students, parents, youth and Congress workers. Participants later took out a candlelight march from Kranti Maidan to the Martyrs’ Memorial in solidarity with students protesting in Delhi.
Slogans including ‘Shiksha Mantri Istifa Do’ and ‘Justice for Students’ were raised during the demonstration.
Heavy police deployment was made in and around Kranti Maidan and the Martyrs’ Memorial as a precautionary measure.
The protesters also condemned the alleged police action against students during the demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and expressed solidarity with those who were injured.
Addressing the gathering, Kushawati District Congress President Rajesh Verenkar alleged that the BJP-led Central government was compromising the country’s education system.
“Students spend years preparing for competitive examinations and any irregularity in the examination process is a grave injustice to their hard work and aspirations,” he said, calling for a transparent and credible examination system to restore students’ confidence.
Shiroda Block Congress President Snehlo Gracias said that students’ futures must not be jeopardised because of lapses in the examination process and urged the government to ensure accountability.
Congress State Youth leader Archit Naik, Ponda Block Congress President William Aguiar, Ramkrishna Jalmi, Hrudaynath Shirodkar and Congress Working President M K Shaikh also addressed the gathering.
Several students who participated in the protest stated that they were demanding fairness, transparency and equal opportunity for all aspirants. They stated that the protest was aimed at safeguarding the future of students and ensuring that merit alone determines success in competitive examinations.
