SHILLONG, July 20: Echoing protests across the country, students, youths and elders gathered at Don Bosco Square here on Monday demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged mishandling of the country’s education system.
Carrying placards and raising slogans, the protesters accused the Centre of failing to ensure transparency and accountability in national examinations. They cited repeated irregularities, paper leaks and administrative lapses that, they said, have severely affected the future of lakhs of students. Some of the placards read “Save Democracy in India. Resign Dharmendra Pradhan and Modi” and “Shame on You Modi, You must resign.”
One woman protester said the education sector had “taken a beating under the present regime” and expressed her desire to join the larger agitation at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Another protester said they were standing in solidarity with activists, including Sonam Wangchuk, who have raised concerns over the state of education. A third lamented that society and even ministers remained silent on the issue while calling for the minister’s resignation.
TUR leader Angela Rangad, who backed the protest, said it had emerged organically through social media. “Nobody knows who started this. Youngsters just decided to meet at Don Bosco Square. It shows the concern and responsibility students are taking,” she said.
Criticising the Centre, Rangad said the crisis went far beyond the alleged NEET paper leak. “Paper leaks are happening at the state level too. Education is becoming expensive and privatised, with no quality. And then students are insulted and called ‘cockroaches’. That is the contempt this government has,” she said.
Meghalaya Congress extends support to CJP
The Meghalaya Congress has thrown its weight behind the Cockroach Janta Party, which is leading the nationwide protest demanding Pradhan’s resignation over his alleged failure to conduct free and fair NEET examinations.
Congress general secretary Manuel Badwar, who attended the Don Bosco Square protest, said the students’ demonstration clearly showed their frustration boiling over due to the government’s failures. Questioning the Centre’s education policy, he said the Union government “just does not seem to care about the education sector.”
“The youth of the country are fighting for a bright future. The Union government must listen to their demands and cannot continue to ignore them,” Badwar said, stressing the need to reinvent the education sector. He added that the Congress stands firmly with the Cockroach Janta Party and students raising issues that affect the country’s young generation.
