Opposition and Students Demand Charges Dropped for NEET Protesters

Opposition leader Pinarayi Vijayan has formally requested Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to unconditionally withdraw all police cases filed against approximately 5,000 people, including students and cultural activists, who participated in solidarity protests over the NEET paper leak. Vijayan described the use of water cannons and lathi-charges as undemocratic and noted that the Union government has already agreed to withdraw cases against students nationwide.

Simultaneously, the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and other civil society groups are condemning a broader nationwide police crackdown. AISA reports arrests in Bihar, West Bengal, and Jharkhand, while alleging that Delhi Police used retina and face scanning to target protesters in Jamia Nagar. In Mumbai, coalitions including the Bombay Catholic Sabha and United Against Injustice and Discrimination have called for a judicial inquiry into the leak and punishment for officers who used excessive force at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

While some states like Bihar and Assam have issued directives to drop charges, activists claim that the Greater Mumbai Police continue to summon students. Protesting groups are now demanding the scrapping of the National Testing Agency, the repeal of the National Education Policy 2020, and financial compensation for the families of students who committed suicide during the crisis.