Several educational institutions shut to protest alleged NEET irregularities

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Several educational institutions in Andhra Pradesh remained closed on Friday in response to a call from Left-affiliated student and youth organisations to shutdown to protest against alleged irregularities in the conduct of NEET.

The strike, called by the Students' Federation of India (SFI), All India Students' Federation (AISF) and other Left organisations, was held in solidarity with students protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.

SFI state secretary Prasanna Kumar claimed the statewide strike was a success, with a large number of students taking part and educational institutions observing closure for a day.

"Our only demand is the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. As the Union Cabinet is meeting today, it should pass a resolution seeking his resignation or dismiss him from the post," Prasanna Kumar told PTI Videos.

He also demanded the abolition of the National Testing Agency (NTA), alleging that the present examination system for medical aspirants had lost credibility, and urged the Centre to allow states to conduct the examination on their own.

Prasanna Kumar criticised the leaders of the ruling NDA coalition government in Andhra Pradesh for "remaining silent" on the issue and took exception to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's allegation that the "agitation was being diverted" from its original purpose.

Questioning Kalyan's "sense of responsibility", Prasanna Kumar alleged that instead of supporting the students' movement, the Deputy Chief Minister had attempted to undermine it and warned against making such statements.

AISF Andhra Pradesh state vice-president Sai Kumar claimed that educational institutions from KG to PG across the state observed the strike and said several schools and colleges had declared a holiday in advance in support of the protest.

He said AISF activists visited the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Vijayawada and appealed to the school to support the movement in solidarity with the students protesting at Jantar Mantar over the NEET issue.

Sai Kumar condemned the alleged police action against the protesting students in Delhi and further alleged that the issue was being politicised instead of being resolved.

Meanwhile, in Kurnool, where educational institutions remained shut, the Students' Joint Action Committee (JAC) held a two-wheeler rally urging schools and colleges to observe shutdown.

Several private educational institutions declared holiday in advance in support of the protest, while student leaders demanded a comprehensive probe into the alleged NEET paper leak.

They demanded that the government initiate strict action against those responsible for the alleged question paper leak and the also sought the immediate resignation of Pradhan, holding the Centre accountable.