Rahul Gandhi alleged that students seeking justice were met with lathi-charge. (Photo: X)
New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday intensified his attack on the Centre over the ongoing NEET paper leak controversy by presenting an injured student during a press conference in Delhi. Rahul claimed the student suffered a pellet injury to one eye during the July 20 CJP (Cockroach Janta Party)-led protest at Jantar Mantar, where demonstrators were demanding accountability over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination.
LoP called Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan a "criminal education minister," later he renewed his demand for Pradhan's resignation, alleging that the government had failed students and responded to peaceful protests with force instead of dialogue.
Addressing reporters, Rahul Gandhi alleged that students seeking justice were met with lathi-charge, tear gas and pellet firing during the protest. Displaying the injured student before the media, he claimed the protester's eye had suffered severe damage.
"The government should stop assaulting our students," Rahul said, accusing the Centre of attempting to silence young voices rather than addressing concerns over the NEET paper leak.
He further alleged that the government's handling of the protests reflected a broader pattern of suppressing dissent and avoiding accountability on examination-related issues. Rahul also said the Opposition would continue raising the issue both inside and outside Parliament until students' demands were addressed.
However, Delhi Police has denied using pellet guns during the July 20 protest, and the allegations remain disputed.
Meanwhile, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been leading the student protests, maintained that the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan remains a non-negotiable demand.
The CJP held a second round of talks with Union ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. According to CJP national spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, the government sought time until Saturday afternoon to respond to the demand for the Education Minister's resignation.
"The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon," Ranka told reporters after the meeting.
Ranka said the Centre had expressed in-principle approval for two key demands raised by the student body. These include providing ₹1 crore compensation to the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide and withdrawing FIRs and legal cases filed against protesting students.
However, the CJP made it clear that the movement would continue unless Dharmendra Pradhan steps down as Education Minister. The organisation has warned of intensified protests if the government refuses to accept its primary demand.
A third round of talks between the CJP leadership and the Centre is scheduled for Saturday, with all eyes on whether the government will take a final call on the resignation demand.
