NEET protest expands: Students and job aspirants unite at Jantar Mantar over exam delays

New Delhi: What began as a public outcry over the NEET paper leak is gradually becoming a convergence point for students and government job aspirants from across the country, each bringing their own grievances. While the demand for the resignation of the Union education minister remains central, many at Jantar Mantar see the protest as an opportunity to raise issues related to government recruitment examinations and admissions to higher education institutions.

Twenty-eight-year-old Rajan Singh arrived from Khagaria in Bihar on Wednesday. Waiting for the notification of Teachers Recruitment Examination 4 (TRE4), he said many candidates were still awaiting recruitment despite government promises.

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"We have been waiting for the examination for a long time. The government promised during the elections that examinations would be held on time. Yet no notification has been issued... I want the organisers of this protest to raise this issue as well," Singh told ET.

Viraj Patil (31), who travelled from Satara in Maharashtra, said the Teachers Eligibility Test (TET), scheduled for June 28, was cancelled after the paper leak.

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"The government has not announced any date for the examination, and we are hearing it will now be online. It becomes troublesome for students like me to wait. What if it gets leaked again?" he said, adding that he joined the protest because he believes it is aimed at improving the education system.

The protest, called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), has also drawn political leaders and student organisations. On Wednesday, a Samajwadi Party MLA from Sardhana in Uttar Pradesh distributed fruits among protesters. Student organisations, including AISF, Disha Student's Organisation (DSO), Krantikari Yuva Sangathan and Parivartankami Chhatra Sangathan, have set up camps near the venue and are leading sloganeering and poster-making activities.

"We have been protesting the NEET paper leak for long. Once this movement started, we came here to support it. Everyone needs to come here. We will welcome our ABVP friends also if they come," said Avinash Kumar, a DU student and AISF member.

The gathering has also attracted people with no political affiliation. Maninderjit Singh from Ludhiana said he and his friends were distributing water bottles to protesters to support the movement.