NEET Protests Spread Across Karnataka, BJP Targets Congress

Mangaluru/Belagavi/Hubbali: Student organizations and the BJP held separate demonstrations in Coastal and North Karnataka on Friday over allegations of irregularities in the NEET exam, with the BJP accusing the Congress of exploiting the students’ agitation for political gain.

In Mangaluru, a protest march was held from Hampankatta to Mini Vidhana Soudha. Protesters marched carrying banners reading “NEET is Not for Sale”, “National Leakage Agency” and “The Future of Our Youth Deserves Justice”. Some participants also held signs expressing solidarity with climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

In Hubballi, NSUI and Youth Congress workers staged a demonstration demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, blaming him for alleged lapses in the conduct of the examination.

Meanwhile, in Belagavi, the BJP staged a protest condemning the egg attack on BJP MPs and party workers during a recent demonstration in Bengaluru and accusing the Congress of politicizing the ongoing student agitation.

The protesters marched from Rani Chennamma Circle towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office and shouted slogans against the Congress before submitting a memorandum addressed to the President through the district administration.

BJP leader and former MLC Mahantesh Kavatagimath said that the BJP is not against the students’ agitation against the alleged irregularities in the NEET exam. However, he alleged that Congress leaders were exploiting students’ pain and anxiety for political gain. He accused the Congress of trying to create unrest against the Central government by using students as tools and urged the people to become aware of what he described as the political agenda of the party.