Mamata Banerjee, the former Chief Minister of West Bengal, has expressed her backing for the youth-led protests concerning the alleged NEET-UG paper leak. The protests escalated following a ‘Chalo Sansad’ march on July 20, which reportedly faced severe police action. In a post on X, Banerjee condemned the treatment of demonstrators and underscored her commitment to the students’ cause.

She stated, “I have stood firmly with the students and their movement from the very beginning. Their fight is not just for justice in the NEET scam; it is a fight to protect the future of every young Indian.” Banerjee sharply criticised what she described as a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, labelling the police’s actions as deeply disturbing and unacceptable.

Further, Banerjee condemned the suspension of internet services in the vicinity of Jantar Mantar and the invocation of the National Security Act (NSA) as measures to thwart the peaceful protests. She suggested that these actions indicated a fear from the Union Government towards a democratic movement.

Concerns Over Police Response and Allegations of Government Overreach

The Delhi Police have defended their actions by clarifying that the routine renewal of NSA powers has been erroneously associated with the protests. Banerjee refuted this, calling attention to the implications of such measures for citizens’ rights and freedoms while standing in solidarity with the demonstrators.

Moreover, she highlighted specific concerns regarding the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) findings regarding the NEET (UG) 2024 paper leak. Banerjee noted that the CBI allegedly found no evidence that established the involvement of the key suspect, Sanjeev Kumar, raising questions about the government’s commitment to accountability.

In her post, she remarked, “The Prime Minister speaks of zero tolerance towards corruption and promises strict accountability. Yet, only yesterday, the CBI stated that it found no evidence against the alleged kingpin in the 2024 NEET paper leak case.” She questioned the government’s motives and its perceived efforts to shield the Education Minister from scrutiny.

Opposition’s Call for Action and Ongoing Discussions

In a related context, Union Ministers JP Nadda and Jitendra Singh met with representatives from the Cockroach Janata Party to discuss pressing issues. Nadda reported that the meeting lasted nearly two hours, focusing on three main demands along with five suggestions for reforms related to examinations.

According to CJP spokesperson Ashutosh Ranka, the government has shown a positive inclination towards some of their demands, including compensation for victims of the NEET leak and assurance that no FIRs would be filed against protesting students. The ongoing situation continues to unfold as discussions between the parties are slated to resume shortly.

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